Charles Francis Adams III biography

 Charles Francis Adams III biography

Charles Francis Adams III, (born Aug. 2, 1866, Quincy, Mass., U.S.—died June 11, 1954, Boston, Mass.), American lawyer and businessman, authorities official, yachtsman, and philanthropist who made Harvard University one of the vital abundantly endowed educational establishments.

Adams was the son of the lawyer and historian Charles Francis Adams, Jr. (1835–1915), in addition to great-grandson of the sixth U.S. president and great-great-grandson of the second. He was educated at Adams Academy in Quincy and at Harvard (A.B., 1888; LL.B., 1892) and took up the apply of legislation in Boston, specializing in estates and trusts. From 1900 till his demise he served as director on the boards of dozens of American banks and firms.

In 1898 Adams was elected treasurer of the Corporation of Harvard College, and for the subsequent 30 years he had cost of the college’s capital funds. During his tenure Harvard’s endowment grew from $15,000,000 to $120,000,000, largely as a consequence of his monetary and managerial abilities. When he resigned as treasurer in 1929, Harvard was effectively ready to face the following Great Depression. Later, Adams was president of the Harvard Alumni Association (1933–34) and of the Harvard Board of Overseers (1937–43).

Adams was U.S. secretary of the navy in the course of the Herbert Hoover administration (1929–33). After he left authorities service Adams resumed his manifold enterprise pursuits and indulged his profound love of yacht racing. He gained the America’s Cup in 1920, and in 1939 (on the age of 73) he captured the King’s, Astor, and Puritan cups—the three prime prizes in American yacht racing—in a single season. He continued to race till 1951, and he maintained his enterprise, monetary, and philanthropic actions to the tip of his lengthy life.