Edward Julius Berwind
Edward Julius Berwind | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | 18 August 1936 (aged 88) New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Coal magnate, businessman |
| Known for | President of Berwind-White Coal Mining Company; largest private owner of coal assets in the U.S. |
Edward Julius Berwind (June 17, 1848 – August 18, 1936) was a prominent American coal magnate who, alongside his brother Charles Frederick Berwind and Allison White, established the Berwind-White Coal Mining Company. He held the position of the company's second president from 1890 until 1930. Berwind emerged as the largest individual proprietor of coal assets in the United States, securing vital supply contracts with the United States Navy, Pennsylvania Railroad, and various global shipping enterprises, creating an almost monopolistic presence. His holdings included ownership of six coal corporations and the Berwind National Bank, while he also sat on the boards of approximately 50 companies across industries such as banking, coal mining, railroads, and maritime transport.
His summer estate in Newport, Rhode Island, known as The Elms, was designed by architect Horace Trumbauer and served as the setting for his extensive art collection.
Early life
Born on June 17, 1848, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Berwind was one of five brothers born to German immigrant Augusta (née Guldenferring) Berwind and John Berwind. His brother Charles Frederick Berwind was the inaugural president of Berwind-White; meanwhile, his sister Julia A. Berwind was a social welfare advocate who later resided with Edward.
In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln appointed him to the United States Naval Academy, from which he graduated as a midshipman in 1869. He advanced to ensign in 1870 and master in 1872, serving during both the Franco-Prussian War and Spanish–American War. While serving as an ensign, he encountered the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII), who became a lifelong companion.
During President Grant’s administration, Berwind worked as a naval aide at the White House before retiring from naval service in May 1875.
Career
In January 1886, Edward Berwind partnered with his brother Charles Frederick Berwind and Allison White to launch the Berwind-White Coal Mining Company. The firm’s initial mining operation commenced in Houtzdale, Pennsylvania, and by 1897 it had expanded to operate thirteen mines within Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Berwind negotiated supply contracts with international shipping companies and the Pennsylvania Railroad for coal distribution. The company amassed significant landholdings in Somerset County and collaborated with the Babcock Lumber Company to harvest timber while maintaining mineral rights ownership.
Berwind worked closely with financier J. P. Morgan to consolidate, restructure, and grow his coal mining enterprises. He became the largest private owner of coal mining assets nationwide, holding contracts that supplied coal to the U.S. Navy, railroads, and shipping lines—effectively creating a near-monopoly. His operations were among the last to maintain an open shop policy within coal mining regions, as he declined to engage in collective bargaining with workers.
He presided over six coal companies and served on the boards of four others, including chairmanship at Colorado Fuel and Iron. Additionally, Berwind held directorships at roughly fifty organizations spanning railroads such as the Erie Railway, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, Interborough Rapid Transit Company, New York and Long Island Traction Company, and New York and Queens County Railway. His financial sector roles included positions at institutions like Girard Trust and Berwind National Bank. In maritime industries, he directed firms including the Atlantic, Gulf & West Indies Steamship Lines, Clyde Steamship Company, and International Mercantile Marine Company. Berwind also invested in J. P. Morgan’s conglomerate responsible for acquiring the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company for incorporation into U.S. Steel. He stepped down from active management in 1930.
In 1899, Berwind commissioned his Châteauesque-style summer residence in Newport, Rhode Island—The Elms—designed by Horace Trumbauer and inspired by France’s Château d'Asnières. This grand home replaced an Italianate cottage that had served since 1888. The interiors and furnishings by Jules Allard and Sons displayed his collection of eighteenth-century French and Venetian art pieces, Oriental jades, and Renaissance ceramics featuring artists such as Boucher, Drouais, and Antoine Watteau. The estate’s gardens were adorned with sculptures originally from Madame de Pompadour’s château in France.
Personal life
Berwind belonged to the Philadelphia Club. In 1886, he wed Sarah Vesta Herminie Torrey in Leghorn, Italy, where her father held the position of U.S. consular agent. The couple did not have children, and she passed away in 1922. Upon her death, she bequeathed Berwind her jewelry collection valued at more than $376,000 but left no monetary inheritance, as he was considered financially secure. The remainder of her estate was inherited by her brother, Charles Franklin Torrey. Following her passing, Berwind's sister assumed the role of hostess for him in both New York and Newport.
Berwind died on August 18, 1936, at the Edward J. Berwind House located in New York City. His fortune was estimated to exceed $34 million. After a funeral held at St. Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue, he was interred at West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, beside his wife. Their mausoleum, crafted by Horace Trumbauer, drew inspiration from the Tower of the Winds in Athens. His principal heirs were his sister Julia and nephew Charles E. Dunlap.
Legacy
The mining communities of Berwind, Colorado and Berwind, West Virginia carry Edward J. Berwind’s name. Additionally, the borough of Windber, Pennsylvania derived its name by reversing the syllables of his surname at his suggestion.
The Edward J. Berwind House in Manhattan was passed down to his sister and later sold in 1945 to the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences. In 1967, it was repurposed as the headquarters for the New York Heart Association.
His summer estate, The Elms, was sold to the Preservation Society of Newport County in 1962 and has since been made accessible to visitors.
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