William E. Corey

William Ellis Corey
President of U.S. Steel
In office
1903–1911
President of Carnegie Steel Company
In office
1901–1903
Personal details
Born(1866-05-04)May 4, 1866
Braddock, Pennsylvania
DiedMay 11, 1934(1934-05-11) (aged 68)
Manhattan, New York City
Spouse(s)
Laura Cook
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(m. 1883⁠–⁠1906)​

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(m. 1907⁠–⁠1923)​
Signature

William Ellis Corey (May 4, 1866 – May 11, 1934) was president of the Carnegie Steel Company from 1901 to 1903, and was president of U.S. Steel from 1903 to 1911.[1]

Biography

He was born in Braddock, Pennsylvania in 1866.[2] In 1883, he married Laura Cook, whom he met when she worked for his family,[3] and they had one son, Allan Corey. In 1906, Laura filed for divorce in Reno, Nevada, charging that William had deserted her in May 1905.[4] Laura was awarded custody of Allan[5] and a settlement of $3,000,000 (approximately $97,711,000 today).[6] After the divorce, William married an actress, Mabelle Gilman[7] on May 14, 1907,[8] and in 1914 Laura married Lenn A. Duckworth.[9] In 1911, Corey resigned his position as president of U.S. Steel.[2] In 1923, Mabelle and William were divorced.[10]

He died in Manhattan, New York City on May 11, 1934.[1][11]

City of Corey, Alabama

The city of Fairfield, Alabama, was originally named for Corey in 1910 by the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company, which built the city as a model city for workers at the company's nearby Fairfield Works. The negative publicity from Corey's divorce prompted U.S. Steel, which had taken over TCI, to rename the city for the company president's hometown in Connecticut.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b "W. E. Corey Dies. Headed U.S. Steel. One Of 'Carnegie's Boys,' He Rose in 21 Years To Highest Paid Place In Country. Second To Head Concern. Improved Armor-plate Process. Chairman Of Midvale Steel at Retirement". New York Times. May 12, 1934.
  2. ^ a b "Corey Resigns: Steel Corporation to Do Without a President, Has Served Seven Year". The Citizen (Honesdale, Pennsylvania). January 6, 1911. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  3. ^ "The Coreys - A Story of Love That Fled When Poverty Fled". The Spokane Press. December 27, 1905. p. 4. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  4. ^ "One "Captain of Industry"". The Commoner (Lincoln, Nebraska). June 22, 1906. p. 3. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  5. ^ "Wife of Millionaire Steel King Given Divorce Decree: Mrs. Wm. E. Corey Secures Separation from Husband in Nevada - No Contest Made". Perrysburg (OH), Journal. August 3, 1906. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  6. ^ "Divorce Costs Steel King Corey $3,000,000". The San Francisco Call. August 1, 2006. p. 1. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  7. ^ "Mabelle Gilman, performer". Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  8. ^ "Former Actress and Steel King Wed in New York". The San Francisco Call. May 14, 1907. p. 10. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  9. ^ "Dan Cupid Tips Off Her Second Marriage: Mrs. Laura Cook Corey, Noted Divorcee, and Lenn A. Duckworth Couldn't Keep Marriage Secret, That New Law Spoiled It". The Washington Herald. July 16, 1914. p. 4. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  10. ^ "MRS. W.E. COREY GETS DIVORCE IN PARIS; Former Mabelle Gilman, Actress, Wins Her Freedom From American Steel Man". The New York Times. November 23, 1923.
  11. ^ "Corey Family Society: Famous/Prominent Corys". Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  12. ^ Maloney, Christopher. ""Fairfield"". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved March 12, 2018.