Simon Guggenheim | |
|---|---|
 Guggenheim in June 1916 | |
| United States Senator fromColorado | |
| In office March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1913 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas M. Patterson |
| Succeeded by | John F. Shafroth |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1867-12-30)December 30, 1867 Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | November 2, 1941(1941-11-02) (aged 73) New York City, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Olga Hirsch |
| Parent |
|
| Relatives | Guggenheim family |
| Education | Peirce College |
John Simon Guggenheim (December 30, 1867 – November 2, 1941) was an American businessman, politician and philanthropist.
Guggenheim was born inPhiladelphia ofJewish descent on December 30, 1867,[1] the son ofMeyer Guggenheim and Barbara Guggenheim, and was the younger brother ofDaniel Guggenheim andSolomon R. Guggenheim. He attendedCentral High School and thePeirce School of Business Administration, both in Philadelphia.[2]
After graduating from Peirce School of Business Administration, Guggenheim relocated toPueblo, Colorado, where he worked as the chief ore buyer at M. Guggenheim's Sons, his father's mining and smelting company.
In 1898, he was the Republican candidate forGovernor of Colorado, but withdrew after riots broke out at the state convention inColorado Springs, during which one man was killed and several injured.[3] He was apresidential elector in1904.[4]
In 1907, Simon Guggenheim was elected as aRepublican to theUnited States Senate, representing Colorado from 1907 to 1913. During his term in the Senate, he chaired theCommittee to Establish a University of the United States, and theCommittee on the Philippines.[5]
While he was inCongress, one of Guggenheim's older brothers,Benjamin Guggenheim, died in theRMSTitanic catastrophe.
After his U.S. Senate term expired, he and his wife Olga returned toNew York City. Guggenheim joined the board ofAmerican Smelting and Refining Company, and was later appointed chairman of the board. From 1919 to 1941, he was the company's president.[6]
After moving toDenver in 1892, Guggenheim married Olga Hirsch on November 24, 1898, at theWaldorf Astoria New York inManhattan. To celebrate their marriage, the Guggenheims provided aThanksgiving dinner to 5,000 poor Manhattan children.[3]
Their first child, John Simon Guggenheim, was born in 1905. To commemorate the event, Simon Guggenheim made an $80,000 donation (equivalent to $2,800,000 in 2024) to theColorado School of Mines to build a namesake building, Simon Guggenheim Hall. At the time, it was the largest private grant ever made to a state institution.[7]
In 1907, Olga gave birth to their second son, George Denver Guggenheim. In 1909, Simon donated a law school building at theUniversity of Colorado.[8]
In 1922, Guggenheim's son John died ofmastoiditis[9] just before leaving for college. In 1925, in his memory, Guggenheim and his wife established theJohn Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.
In 1939, the Guggenheims' second son, George, completedsuicide in a Manhattan hotel at the age of 32.[9]
On November 2, 1941, Guggenheim died inNew York City, at age 73. He is interred in theWoodlawn Cemetery inThe Bronx.
| U.S. Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 2) from Colorado 1907–1913 Served alongside:Henry M. Teller,Charles J. Hughes, Jr.,Charles S. Thomas | Succeeded by |
| Class 2 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 3 | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
