Mansfield Freeman
Mansfield Freeman | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | November 17, 1992 (aged 97) Greensboro, Vermont, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Wesleyan University (1916) |
| Occupation(s) | Insurance businessman, philanthropist, scholar |
| Known for | Founding role in American International Group (AIG); Freeman Foundation; expertise in Chinese philosophy |
Mansfield Freeman (September 16, 1895 – November 17, 1992) played a pivotal role in establishing the insurance enterprise in China that later developed into American International Group (AIG). Originating from Waltham, Massachusetts, he was the son of a Methodist clergyman and completed his studies at Wesleyan University in 1916. Freeman was also recognized as an expert in Chinese philosophy and was deeply engaged in philanthropy.
He created the Freeman Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting educational programs such as the Freeman Asian Scholarship and the Freeman Center for East Asian Studies at Wesleyan University. His impact on scholarly work included translations and writings on Chinese philosophical thought, notably his introduction to Preservation of Learning by the 17th-century thinker Yan Yuan and the jointly authored volume Tai Chen and Mencius: Explorations in Words and Meaning (1990) alongside Annping Chin.
Freeman died at his residence in Greensboro, Vermont, at the age of 97.