25 Facts About Edsel Ford

Edsel Bryant Ford was an American business executive and philanthropist who was the only child of pioneering industrialist Henry Ford and his wife, Clara Jane Bryant Ford.

Edsel Ford was the president of Ford Motor Company from 1919 until his death in 1943.

Edsel Ford worked closely with his father, as sole heir to the business, but was keen to develop cars more exciting than the Model T, in line with his personal tastes.

Edsel Ford introduced important features, such as hydraulic brakes, and greatly strengthened the company's overseas production.

Edsel Ford was a major art benefactor in Detroit and financed Admiral Richard Byrd's polar explorations.

Henry Ford temporarily reassumed the presidency of Ford on Edsel's death, then Edsel's eldest son, Henry Ford II, succeeded Henry as president of Ford in 1945.

Edsel Ford was a member of the board of directors of American IG, the American subsidiary of the German chemical conglomerate IG Farben.

Edsel Ford was the only child of Clara and Henry Ford, and was named after Edsel Ruddiman, one of Henry Ford's closest childhood friends.

Edsel Ford was groomed to take over the family automobile business, and grew up tinkering on cars with his father.

Edsel Ford went to the Hotchkiss School, in Lakeville, Connecticut, and the Detroit University School.

The younger Edsel Ford showed more interest than his father in flashier styling for automobiles.

Edsel Ford indulged this proclivity in part with the purchase of the Lincoln Motor Company in 1922.

Edsel Ford prevailed upon his father to allow the inclusion of four-wheel mechanical brakes and a sliding-gear transmission on this model.

Edsel Ford significantly strengthened Ford Motors' overseas production, and modernized the company's cars, such as by introducing hydraulic brakes.

Edsel Ford was present at a celebratory dinner at the Manhattan Waldorf Astoria organized by Gerhard Alois Westrick after the Fall of France.

Each of Edsel Ford's children inherited sizable shares in the Edsel Ford Motor Company, and the three sons all worked in the family business.

On Edsel's death, his father briefly reassumed the presidency of Ford, then Edsel's son, Henry Ford II, became president of the company on September 21,1945.

Edsel Ford was one of the most significant art benefactors in Detroit history.

Edsel Ford was an early collector of African art and his contributions became part of the core of the original DIA African art collection.

Edsel Ford helped finance exploratory expeditions, including the historic flight of Admiral Richard Byrd over the North Pole in 1926.

The Edsel Ford division included the Citation, Corsair, Pacer, Ranger, Bermuda, Villager, and Roundup models.

The Edsel Ford division is remembered as a significant commercial failure.

The cars sold moderately well in their first year, but the Edsel Ford division was discontinued soon after the 1960 models were introduced.

In September of 1928 the Edsel Ford family moved into Gaukler Point, their new home designed by Albert Kahn, on the shores of Lake St Clair in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan.

Edsel Ford designed the gardens for Edsel and Eleanor's summer estate Skylands in Seal Harbor on Mount Desert Island in Maine.