Charles W. Engelhard Jr.(February 15, 1917 – March 2, 1971) was an American businessman, a major owner inThoroughbredhorse racing,and a candidate in the1955 New Jersey State Senateelections. He controlled an internationalminingandmetalsconglomerate,Engelhard,founded by his father.
Charles W. Engelhard Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 15, 1917 |
| Died | March 2, 1971(aged 54) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Oxford University |
| Occupation(s) | Industrialist, Racehorse owner |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Spouse | Jane Mannheimer(1947–1971; his death) |
| Children | Anne Mannheimer-Engelhard Susan Engelhard O'Connor Jane Elizabeth Sophie Engelhard Craighead Sally Engelhard Charlene Engelhard Troy |
| Parent | Charles W. Engelhard Sr. |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | November 7, 1941 – 1945[2] |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
Biography
editEngelhard made his fortune in the precious metals industry, where he operated a company founded by his father, Charles W Engelhard Sr. DuringWorld War II,he served with theUnited States Army Air Forcesand, in 1947, Engelhard married the widowJane Mannheimer.Engelhard would adopt Mannheimer's daughter,Anne France Mannheimer,and eventually have four more daughters with his wife. Shortly before his death in 1971, Engelhard disposed of most of his South African businesses, selling them to Anglo-American companies.
Politics
editCharles Engelhard was a major contributor to theUnited States Democratic Partyand in the1960 presidential electionorganized the National Committee of Business and Professional Men and Women forKennedyandJohnson.[citation needed]In 1955, he ran forNew Jersey State SenateagainstMalcolm Forbesin the "Battle of the Billionaires", but lost 19,981 to 19,611.[3]
Engelhard represented John F. Kennedy at the coronation ofPope Paul VI.[4]
Business
editAs a young man, Engelhard worked in a metals processing business which had been founded in 1902 by hisGerman Americanfather, Charles Engelhard Sr., dealing inplatinum,gold,andsilver.Upon the death of his father in 1950, Charles Engelhard inherited the family business. He substantially expanded operations toSouth Africa,South AmericaandEuropeand built it into one of the world's leading refiners of precious metals. In 1958, he consolidated the various operating companies intoEngelhard Corporationand issued apublic share offeringon theNew York Stock Exchange.[5]In 1961,Timedescribed him as, "one of the most powerful businessmen inSouth Africa".[6]
As a result of his company's need forgoldacquisitions from South African suppliers, Engelhard became a major investor in the country, acquiring gold,copperandcoalmining ventures as well as investing in industrial concerns. He set up a publicly traded holding company in the U.S. that raised capital for investments in South African business. The company made investments alone and in conjunction with South African business tycoonHarry Oppenheimer,whoseAnglo Americancompany dominated the South African mining industry. Engelhard maintained a residence in South Africa and was elected to Anglo American'sBoard of Directors.At home, he was criticized by students atHarvardandRutgersfor indirectly supporting the country'sapartheidregime.[7][8][9]
Engelhard Minerals had dealings with the silver empire ofNelson Bunker HuntandW. Herbert Huntand Japanese trading companiesMitsuiandMitsubishithrough its trading armPhillipp Brothers.The company remained very sizable for many years after Engelhard's death.[10]
Philanthropy
editCharles Engelhard supported numeroushumanitarianand benevolent causes in South Africa, theUnited Kingdom,and the United States. The Engelhard Dam on theLetaba RiverinKruger National Parkis named in his honor in gratitude for donations to the South African National Parks Board.[11]
The Charles Engelhard Foundation, headed by his wife after his death and by their children following her death in 2004, provides funding to a wide range of causes including education, medical research, cultural institutions, and wildlife and conservation organizations. It has made major donations to theMetropolitan Museum of Artwhere the Charles Engelhard Court can be found in its American Wing, built the library atHarvard University'sJohn F. Kennedy School of Government,and has been a generous supporter of a number ofUniversity of Montanaacademic programs.[12]In 1967, he and his wife donated an elaborate 18th-centuryNeapolitancrêcheto theWhite House.
Cragwood Stables
editEngelhard developed a love ofThoroughbredhorse racingand became a major force in the industry with racing stables inEnglandand South Africa, plus inAiken, South Carolinawhere his Cragwood Stables was named for his estate inFar Hills, New Jersey.[13]Primarily trained by futureU.S. Racing Hall of Fameinductee,MacKenzie Millerin the U.S., he raced notable horses such asRed Reality,Assagai,Tentam,Alley Fighter,and theU.S. Champion sire,Halo.His best known South African horse wasHawaiiwho won a number of important races in that country until being brought to compete in the U.S. in 1969 where he won severalGrade 1 stakesand was voted the 1969Eclipse Award for Outstanding Male Turf Horse.Following his death, his widow donated a large collection of racing trophies that were won by Cragwood horses in the U.S. between 1962 and 1976.[14]
Nijinsky
editWhile Engelhard was very successful racing Thoroughbreds in the United States, he and his wife also maintained a residence inLondonand it was in England where he had his greatest achievements in racing. His horses wonBritish Classic Racessix times including theSt. Leger Stakesin 1964, 1967, 1968 and again in 1970 when he won it for the fourth time with the horse that brought him international fame and made him that year'sBritish flat racing Champion Owner.Purchased atWindfields Farm'sannual yearling sale inOntario,Canada,Nijinskywas sent toIrelandto be conditioned byVincent O'Brien.The colt earned Champion Two-Year-Old honors for his undefeated 1969 racing campaign. The next year, en route to being votedEuropean Horse of the Year,Nijinsky won the2,000 Guineas,The Derby,and the St. Leger Stakes to become the first horse in thirty-five years to win theEnglish Triple Crown,and only narrowly failed to win thePrix de l'Arc de Triompheby a short head toSassafras.A 1970motion picturewas made about the colt titledA Horse Called Nijinskyand a 2000Sunnewspaper poll voted him Britain's Horse of the Millennium.[15]
Death
editEngelhard died in 1971 of aheart attackinBoca Grande, Florida.[16]His funeral mass was held on March 5 at St. Mary's Abbey Church at theDelbarton Schoolin Morris County, New Jersey. Former presidentLyndon Johnsonacted as an honorary pall-bearer. Also in attendance were US senatorsHubert Humphrey,Ted Kennedy,Mike MansfieldandHarrison A. Williams Jr.,and former governorsRobert B. MeynerandRichard J. Hughes.[4]
Inspiration for Goldfinger
editEngelhard is reported by numerous sources, includingForbesandThe New York Times,to have been the inspiration for the fictional characterAuric Goldfingerin theIan FlemingnovelGoldfingerand thesubsequent motion picture.[1][17]
References
edit- ^ab "Milestones, Mar. 15, 1971".Time.March 15, 1971. Archived fromthe originalon December 21, 2008.RetrievedNovember 23,2011.
- ^National Archives and Records Administration. U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946 [Archival Database]; World War II Army Enlistment Records; Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 64; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD.
- ^Edge, Wally (April 29, 2009)."The battle of the billionaires".Observer.Archived fromthe originalon September 19, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 16,2023.
- ^ab"Johnson, Humphrey at Engelhard Rites".The New York Times.March 6, 1971.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedSeptember 2,2020.
- ^"He Puts Trust in African Gold; Engelhard Adds Bit of the Exotic to Business Chores Fills Old Vision by Forming a Special Share Concern ENGELHARD PUTS HIS TRUST IN GOLD".The New York Times.October 13, 1958.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedJanuary 8,2022.
- ^ "Corporations: South African Invader".Time.January 27, 1961. Archived fromthe originalon September 30, 2007.RetrievedNovember 24,2011.
- ^Ratner, Jonathan D. (October 13, 1978)."Goldfinger Buys a Library | News | The Harvard Crimson".The Harvard Crimson.Archivedfrom the original on August 10, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 10,2023.
- ^Jones, Geoffrey; Elliott, Elliott R. (June 2013)."Goldfinger: Charles W. Engelhard Jr. and Apartheid-era South Africa - Case - Faculty & Research - Harvard Business School".www.hbs.edu.RetrievedJanuary 10,2023– via Harvard Business School Case.
- ^Whitman, Alden (March 3, 1971)."Put His Trust in Gold".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedJanuary 10,2023.
- ^Lohr, Steve (April 1, 1980)."Englehard Minerals: A Sizable, Secretive Company; Discretion is Precious Commodity".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedJanuary 8,2022.
- ^ "Engelhard Dam".Siyabona Africa.RetrievedNovember 24,2011.
- ^"UM Foundation".University of Montana.RetrievedNovember 24,2011.
- ^"Belmont Loses Nijinsky to Newmarket",The New York Times,October 13, 1970. Accessed December 9, 2007. "Charles W. Engelhard of Far Hills, N.J., millionaire racehorse owner, gave approval today for his colt, Nijinsky, to race in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday."
- ^"Cragwood Stable Trophy Exhibit".Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum.RetrievedNovember 24,2011.
- ^ "A Horse Called Nijinsky (1970)".Movies & TV Dept.The New York Times.Archived fromthe originalon January 30, 2013.RetrievedNovember 24,2011.
- ^"Charles W. Engelhard, Jr".allengelhard.com.RetrievedSeptember 2,2020.
- ^Lohr, Steve (April 6, 1980)."A Deal's a Deal, Said Engelhard; Engelhard: Traders and Dealmakers".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedJanuary 8,2022.