henry flagler portrait

Henry Flagler Biography

Following an amazing career as a founding partner and "the brains" behind Standard Oil, which was the largest and most profitable corporation in the world for more than a century, Henry Flagler invested himself in the development of Florida. During the next quarter century, he literally invented modern Florida. The transportation infrastructure and the tourism and agricultural industries he established remain, even today, the very foundation of Florida's economy, while the building of the Over-Sea Railroad remains the most ambitious engineering feat ever undertaken by a private citizen. When Henry Flagler began his work in Florida, it was perhaps the poorest state in the Union. Today, thanks in large part to Henry Flagler, Florida is the third largest state in the Union with an economy larger than 90% of the world's nations. Indeed, no individual has had a greater or more lasting impact on a state than Henry Flagler has had in Florida.

1830

Henry Morrison Flagler was born on January 2, 1830 in Hopewell Junction, New York, to Reverend and Mrs. Isaac Flagler. At the age of 14, after completing the eighth grade, Flagler moved to Bellevue, Ohio where he found work with his cousins in the grain store of L.G. Harkness and Company, at a salary of $5 per month plus room and board.

1852

Henry Flagler, partner in D.M. Harkness and Company, married Mary Harkness in 1852, and had three children, including Henry Harkness Flagler, whose daughter established the Flagler Museum.

1852

Henry Flagler, partner in D.M. Harkness and Company, married Mary Harkness in 1852, and had three children, including Henry Harkness Flagler, whose daughter established the Flagler Museum.

1860

In the mid 1860s, Cleveland's oil refining industry boomed, prompting Rockefeller to start his own refinery. He approached Henry Flagler for capital, securing $100,000 from a relative and a 25% stake in the new company.

1862

Henry Flagler and Barney York founded the Flagler and York Salt Company in 1862 in Saginaw, Michigan. After the Civil War, salt demand declined, leading to the company's collapse. Flagler returned to Bellevue, Ohio, losing his initial investment and borrowed funds.

1862

Henry Flagler and Barney York founded the Flagler and York Salt Company in 1862 in Saginaw, Michigan. After the Civil War, salt demand declined, leading to the company's collapse. Flagler returned to Bellevue, Ohio, losing his initial investment and borrowed funds.

1863

In 1863 Flagler re-entered the grain business as a commission merchant and paid back the money he had borrowed for the salt business. During this time, Flagler became acquainted with John D. Rockefeller, who worked as a commission agent with Hewitt and Tuttle for the Harkness Grain Company.

1870

On January 10, 1870, the Rockefeller, Andrews and Flagler partnership was organized as a joint-stock corporation named Standard Oil. In just two years Standard Oil became the leader in the American oil refining industry, producing 10,000 barrels per day.

1870

On January 10, 1870, the Rockefeller, Andrews and Flagler partnership was organized as a joint-stock corporation named Standard Oil. In just two years Standard Oil became the leader in the American oil refining industry, producing 10,000 barrels per day.

1875

Five years later Standard Oil moved its headquarters to New York City, and the Flaglers moved to their new home at 509 Fifth Avenue in New York City.

1878

In 1878, Flagler's wife, Mary, who had always struggled with health problems, became very ill. On the advice from Mary's physician, she and Flagler visited Jacksonville, Florida for the winter. Unfortunately, Mary did not recover. She died on May 18, 1881 at age 47, leaving Henry Flagler with a young son to raise alone.

1878

In 1878, Flagler's wife, Mary, who had always struggled with health problems, became very ill. On the advice from Mary's physician, she and Flagler visited Jacksonville, Florida for the winter. Unfortunately, Mary did not recover. She died on May 18, 1881 at age 47, leaving Henry Flagler with a young son to raise alone.

1883

In 1883, Flagler married Ida Alice Shourds and traveled to St. Augustine, Florida, believed that Florida had the potential to attract large numbers of tourists. Despite being on Standard Oil's Board, he relinquished his involvement to pursue his interests in Florida.

1885

In 1885, Henry Flagler acquired the first sections of track that would become the Florida East Coast Railway: The Jacksonville, St. Augustine, & Halifax railroads. Soon after, Flagler built the 540-room Hotel Ponce de Leon in St. Augustine.

1885

In 1885, Henry Flagler acquired the first sections of track that would become the Florida East Coast Railway: The Jacksonville, St. Augustine, & Halifax railroads. Soon after, Flagler built the 540-room Hotel Ponce de Leon in St. Augustine.

1880

In the late 1880s, Henry Flagler considered extending his railroad and hotel system to Key West. The severe freezes of 1894 and 1895 accelerated his plans, prompting him to accept land from Julia Tuttle, the Florida East Coast Canal and Transportation Company, and the Boston and Florida Atlantic Coast Land Company.

1888

The Hotel Ponce de Leon opened January 10, 1888 and was an instant success. Two years later, Flagler expanded his Florida holdings, building a railroad bridge across the St. Johns River to gain access to the southern half of the state. Flagler began building a hotel empire by purchasing the Hotel Ormond, just north of Daytona.

1888

The Hotel Ponce de Leon opened January 10, 1888 and was an instant success. Two years later, Flagler expanded his Florida holdings, building a railroad bridge across the St. Johns River to gain access to the southern half of the state. Flagler began building a hotel empire by purchasing the Hotel Ormond, just north of Daytona.

1894

In 1894 Flagler built the Hotel Royal Poinciana on the shores of Lake Worth in Palm Beach and extended his railroad further south to West Palm Beach. The Hotel Royal Poinciana soon became the largest resort in the world.

1895

Flagler's railroad, renamed the Florida East Coast Railway in 1895, reached Biscayne Bay by 1896. Flagler dredged a channel, built streets, instituted the first water and power systems, and financed the town's first newspaper, the Metropolis. Flagler lost his second wife, Ida Alice, to mental illness, which she suffered from for many years. Ida Alice finally had to be institutionalized in 1895.

1895

Flagler's railroad, renamed the Florida East Coast Railway in 1895, reached Biscayne Bay by 1896. Flagler dredged a channel, built streets, instituted the first water and power systems, and financed the town's first newspaper, the Metropolis. Flagler lost his second wife, Ida Alice, to mental illness, which she suffered from for many years. Ida Alice finally had to be institutionalized in 1895.

1896

In 1896 Flagler built the Palm Beach Inn (later renamed The Breakers in 1901) overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Palm Beach.

1896

When Fort Dallas incorporated in 1896, its citizens wanted to honor the man responsible for its growth by naming it "Flagler." He declined, persuading them instead to use the native American Indian name for the river the settlement was built around, Miama or Miami.

1896

When Fort Dallas incorporated in 1896, its citizens wanted to honor the man responsible for its growth by naming it "Flagler." He declined, persuading them instead to use the native American Indian name for the river the settlement was built around, Miama or Miami.

1897

In 1897, Flagler opened the exclusive Hotel Royal Palm in Miami.

1901

On August 24, 1901, Flagler married for the third time, to Mary Lily Kenan. Built as a gift to Mary Lily in 1902 and designed by architects John Carrère and Thomas Hastings, Whitehall became the Flagler's winter home. With more than 100,000 square feet and 75-plus rooms.

1901

On August 24, 1901, Flagler married for the third time, to Mary Lily Kenan. Built as a gift to Mary Lily in 1902 and designed by architects John Carrère and Thomas Hastings, Whitehall became the Flagler's winter home. With more than 100,000 square feet and 75-plus rooms.

1902

Whitehall was described in 1902 by the New York Herald as, "... more wonderful than any palace in Europe, grander and more magnificent than any other private dwelling in the world."

1905

In 1905, inspired by Theodore Roosevelt's Panama Canal project, Flagler extended the Florida East Coast railway to Key West, adding 156 miles of track over water. The "Over-Sea Railroad" was named to capitalize on increased trade with Cuba, Latin America, and the West.

1905

In 1905, inspired by Theodore Roosevelt's Panama Canal project, Flagler extended the Florida East Coast railway to Key West, adding 156 miles of track over water. The "Over-Sea Railroad" was named to capitalize on increased trade with Cuba, Latin America, and the West.

1912

In 1912, the Over-Sea Railroad to Key West was completed. It was the most ambitious engineering feat ever undertaken by a private citizen. Henry Flagler arrived in Key West on January 22nd to be greeted by thousands of grateful citizens and a week of celebrations.

1913

A little more than a year later, Flagler fell down a flight of stairs at Whitehall. He never recovered from the fall, and died of his injuries on May 20, 1913, at 83 years of age. He was laid to rest in St. Augustine alongside his daughters, Jennie Louise and Carrie, and his first wife, Mary Harkness Flagler.

1913

A little more than a year later, Flagler fell down a flight of stairs at Whitehall. He never recovered from the fall, and died of his injuries on May 20, 1913, at 83 years of age. He was laid to rest in St. Augustine alongside his daughters, Jennie Louise and Carrie, and his first wife, Mary Harkness Flagler.