Joseph N. Pew Jr.
Joseph Newton Pew Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | 12 November 1886 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | 9 April 1963 (aged 76) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Industrialist, political leader |
| Known for | Vice president and chairman of Sun Oil; influential Republican Party leader; co-founder of The Pew Charitable Trusts |
Joseph Newton Pew Jr. (November 12, 1886 – April 9, 1963) was a prominent American industrialist and influential leader within the Republican Party.
Early life
Pew was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the youngest child of Mary Anderson Pew and Joseph N. Pew. Nicknamed "Joe," he earned a mechanical engineering degree from Cornell University in 1908. During his time at Cornell, he served as captain of the track team, secured the IC4A hammer throw title, and was inducted into the Quill and Dagger society. His athletic achievements were later recognized with his 1986 induction into the Cornell University Athletic Hall of Fame.
He married Alberta C. Hensel and fathered five children.
Sun Oil
Following his graduation, Pew joined Sun Oil, the company his father had established in 1890. After Joseph N. Pew Sr.’s passing in 1912, Joseph Jr., at age 26, assumed the role of vice president while his brother J. Howard Pew became president.
Marcus Hook Refinery
In 1901, Joseph N. Pew Sr. purchased an 82-acre site in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, where the Sunoco Refinery began operations in 1902. Joseph Jr. was instrumental in driving Sun Oil’s growth, notably overseeing the construction of gasoline pipelines extending from Marcus Hook to Ohio, New York, and New Jersey, which involved securing easements from over 1,000 property owners. The Lindenthorpe Mansion functioned as the administrative center for Sunoco’s plant operations.
In 1916, Joseph Jr. and his brother diversified into shipbuilding by founding the Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Company in Chester, Pennsylvania. This yard evolved into the largest privately owned shipyard in the United States and became a leading manufacturer of oil tankers during World War II. Under Pew’s leadership, innovation flourished; he introduced lead-free gasoline under the Blue Sunoco brand and patented a gyroscopic device in 1926 that enhanced precision and depth control in oil well drilling.
The Pew brothers demonstrated a strong commitment to their workforce by avoiding layoffs throughout the Great Depression and pioneering one of the earliest employee stock ownership plans.
Joseph Jr. maintained his position as Sun Oil’s vice president until he was appointed chairman in 1947, a role he fulfilled until his death in Philadelphia in 1963. He also brought on board fellow Cornell graduate Samuel B. Eckert as treasurer and vice president.
Political career
Between 1933 and 1934, Pew traveled to Washington, D.C., to challenge the New Deal petroleum regulations, which he viewed as mechanisms for price-fixing—this marked his entry into political activism. He played a significant role in Republican politics within Pennsylvania, acting as a delegate to the Republican National Convention. His political strategy included employing John Hamilton as an advisor and consultant. A staunch opponent of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and New Deal initiatives such as price controls and organized labor support, Pew invested millions to influence elections, earning recognition as Pennsylvania’s political boss by shaping outcomes at both state and national levels. He financed the establishment of the Republican National Committee headquarters with the goal of preventing Roosevelt’s reelection. Although his efforts did not achieve widespread national success, they contributed to electoral victories for figures like Arthur H. James, Edward Martin as governor of Pennsylvania, and Bernard Samuel as mayor of Philadelphia.
Pew was featured on the cover of Time Magazine on May 6, 1940, under the title "Republican Pew," underscoring his political prominence.
Philanthropy
In 1948, Pew and his brothers established The Pew Charitable Trusts, an organization dedicated to addressing social issues worldwide. Among its notable initiatives is the funding of the Pew Research Center, an impartial institution specializing in media analysis, public policy, and political studies.
By 2007, this foundation had become one of the most financially substantial in the United States. Its inaugural educational grant was awarded to Cornell University, where the Pew Engineering Quad and an endowed engineering professorship honor his legacy. Beginning in 1951, Pew also extended support to historically black colleges, engaging Cornell graduate Jerome H. Holland as a consultant for the foundation.
In 1957, Fortune Magazine recognized Pew as one of the seventy-six wealthiest individuals in America.
Death and legacy
Pew passed away in 1963 and was laid to rest within the family mausoleum located at West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.
Further reading
- Alberta C. Pew, Joseph N. Pew Jr., Margaret R. Leisenring, Edward B. Leisenring, Jay Cooke, A.E.F.: Anticosti Expeditionary Force (Philadelphia?: Privately Printed, 1935). A narrative of a private fishing trip to Anticosti Island in Canada, featuring photographs of Pew and his spouse.