13 Facts About Franklin D'Olier

Franklin D'Olier was an American businessman who served as the first national commander of The American Legion from 1919 to 1920.

Franklin D'Olier was the grandfather of academic writer and poet F D Reeve, and the great-grandfather of actor Christopher Reeve.

Franklin D'Olier was born April 28,1877, in Burlington, New Jersey, the son of Annie Kay and William D'Olier.

Franklin D'Olier attended local school and prepared for Princeton University.

In July, 1918, Captain Franklin D'Olier was ordered to Lyon, France, to organize the second large depot, which at the time of the armistice had a capacity of taking care of salvaging for upward of a million and a half men.

Franklin D'Olier was one of the original 20 men who initiated The American Legion in France, February 15,1919, and attended the Paris caucus of The American Legion on March 15,1919.

Franklin D'Olier was chairman of the Pennsylvania delegation at the St Louis Caucus and a member of the National Executive Committee from Pennsylvania.

Franklin D'Olier was elected National Commander of The American Legion at the national convention in Minneapolis November 12,1919.

In 1926 Franklin D'Olier joined the Prudential Insurance Company as vice president and became president of the company in 1938.

In 1944 in answer to a request by Secretary of War Stimson, Franklin D'Olier organized and directed the United States Strategic Bombing Survey.

In 1946 Franklin D'Olier became chairman of the board of directors of Prudential and continued to serve actively as a director of the company until his death.

Franklin D'Olier was a director of the Howard Savings Institution of Newark, New Jersey; National Biscuit Company; Pennsylvania Railroad; General Refractories Company; American Enka Corporation and the Morristown Trust Company.

Franklin D'Olier died on December 10,1953, in Morristown, New Jersey, a year after the birth of his great-grandson Christopher Reeve.