Rufus T. Bush
Rufus Ter Bush | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age Tompkins County, New York, U.S. |
| Died | September 15, 1890 (aged 50) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, industrial leader, yachtsman |
| Known for | Exposing Standard Oil's railroad rebate strategies; owner of yacht Coronet |
Rufus Ter Bush (February 22, 1840 – September 15, 1890) was a prominent American entrepreneur, industrial leader, and avid yachtsman. His testimony exposing the monopolistic railroad rebate strategies employed by Standard Oil played a significant role in public awareness. Additionally, the 1887 transatlantic competition involving his yacht Coronet and his later global voyage drew considerable nationwide interest.
Bush and his son Irving T. Bush trace their ancestry to Jan Bosch, a Dutch settler who arrived in New Amsterdam in 1662. There is no established connection to the presidential Bush family.
Early life
Originating from Tompkins County, New York, Bush spent his early years on his family’s farm before relocating to Michigan in 1851. He completed his secondary education at Lansing High School and pursued further studies at the State Agricultural College (present-day Michigan State University). He finalized his academic training at Michigan State Normal School (now known as Eastern Michigan University) in 1861. For two years, he and his wife were engaged in teaching.
Bush launched his professional journey by selling sewing machines in Chicago. He briefly moved to Toronto, Canada, to engage in manufacturing before settling in New York City. There, he innovatively utilized direct-mail marketing by acquiring contact details of ministers across the country and marketed wire laundry lines to their congregations.
Oil and Standard Oil
Following business ventures in laundry services and land investments in Virginia, Bush transitioned into oil refining by investing in Bush & Denslow’s refinery located on 25th Street in South Brooklyn. After a fire destroyed the refinery in 1881, it was reconstructed in Bay Ridge on a smaller scale. As a co-owner, Bush openly criticized Standard Oil’s railroad rebate system in 1879, highlighting that the company’s profits largely stemmed from these preferential rebates. His statements became a key historical reference and were prominently featured by investigative journalist Ida Tarbell in her 1904 work The History of the Standard Oil Company.
Despite his opposition to Standard Oil’s practices, Bush & Denslow’s Brooklyn refinery was eventually sold to Standard Oil during the 1880s, allowing Bush to retire with considerable wealth. Standard Oil then dismantled the facility, removing another rival from the market.
The yacht Coronet
During his retirement, Bush owned the elegant 131-foot sailing yacht Coronet, constructed in Brooklyn according to his specifications. He issued a $10,000 challenge for a transatlantic race, which the Coronet won against the yacht Dauntless in March 1887—an achievement that received prominent coverage on the front page of the New York Times. After securing both victory and prize money, Bush put the yacht up for sale at £30,000 while in England.
In 1888, Bush embarked on a global voyage aboard the Coronet with his family, including son Irving T. Bush, visiting destinations such as Hawaii, Japan, and India among others. The yacht was sold prior to Bush’s passing in 1890.
Following several changes in ownership over time, the Coronet is currently undergoing restoration in Mystic, Connecticut. It holds the distinction of being the oldest registered yacht in the United States and one of the few remaining grand sailing yachts from the nineteenth century. The vessel maintains its original interior design and is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Personal life
Bush passed away on September 15, 1890, due to the accidental ingestion of a lethal amount of aconite. Reports indicate he had been struggling with insomnia and had taken paregoric mixed with whisky before bedtime, but mistakenly consumed aconite instead. His body was discovered the following morning. At his death, Bush left behind an estate valued near $2,000,000 (in 1890 dollars), which was inherited by his wife and two sons. Shortly thereafter, the family established The Bush Co.
Legacy
The wealth accumulated by Bush served as initial funding for his son, Irving T. Bush, who developed Bush Terminal in Brooklyn during the 1890s. This project transformed the former Bush & Denslow refinery site into a significant industrial hub. The terminal played a crucial role in financing notable constructions such as Bush Tower, an early skyscraper located on 42nd Street close to Times Square, and Bush House in London, which functioned as the BBC World Service's headquarters until 2012.
Bush's yacht Coronet is recognized as one of the rare surviving grand sailing yachts from the 19th century.
See also
References
External links
- "Bush, Rufus Ter" in The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography (1910), complete text and portrait available on Google Books