Roy Dikeman Chapin Sr. was born on February 23, 1880, and died on February 16, 1936. He was an American business leader and co-founded the Hudson Motor Company, which was the earlier company of American Motors Corporation. He also worked as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce from August 8, 1932, to March 3, 1933, during the last months of President Herbert Hoover's administration.
Early life
Chapin was born on February 23, 1880, in Lansing, Michigan, to Edward Cornelius Chapin and Ella Rose King. He attended Lansing High School and later went to the University of Michigan. In 1901, he left the university to take a job with Olds Motor Works in Detroit.
In 1914, Chapin married Inez Tiedeman, the daughter of George Tiedeman, who had previously served as mayor of Savannah, Georgia, from 1907 to 1913. The couple had six children. One of their sons, Roy D. Chapin Jr., also worked for Hudson Motor Company and later led American Motors Corporation (AMC).
Commercial interests
From 1904 to 1906, Chapin worked as the general sales manager for Olds Motor Works. In 1906, he began a business called E. R. Thomas-Detroit Company with Edward R. Thomas. He served as the company’s treasurer and general manager until 1908.
In 1908, Chapin led a group of businesspeople and engineers who started the Hudson Motor Car Company. The company was named after Joseph L. Hudson, a Detroit merchant who provided most of the money needed to start the business.
In 1918, Chapin helped create Essex Motors Company, which became a part of Hudson. Essex is known for making the first inexpensive cars made in large numbers with roofs in 1922. Because the Essex Coach line was popular, American car companies began making more cars with roofs instead of open-top models to meet customer needs. By 1929, Hudson-Essex ranked third in car sales in the United States, behind Chevrolet and Ford.
In 1927, Chapin took over as the leader of the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce after Clifton left the position.
In addition to his business work, Chapin led the effort to build the Lincoln Highway with Henry B. Joy of Packard Motors. Chapin believed that well-designed roads would help grow the car industry and also strengthen the United States in the long term.
Political activities
After helping build Hudson into one of the most successful American car companies that operated independently, Chapin left Hudson to join the Hoover administration when he was appointed in 1932.
During his time as secretary of commerce, Chapin could not convince Henry Ford to provide financial support to stop the Union Guardian Trust Company of Detroit from failing. Ford's refusal to help the bank avoid financial problems caused the Michigan Bank Holiday. This event started a series of similar bank holidays in other states and eventually led to the creation of the Emergency Banking Act of 1933 under the Roosevelt administration.
Death
Chapin returned to Hudson in March 1933. He spent his last three years trying to save the company from the problems caused by the Great Depression. He died in Detroit, Michigan, on February 16, 1936. He was succeeded by A.E. Barit at Hudson. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Legacy
In 1927, Chapin hired well-known architect John Russell Pope to design a home for his family at 447 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. Pope later designed the Jefferson Memorial, National Archives Building, and National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Bryant Fleming created the landscaping for the property, which included 600-year-old yew trees brought from England. Mrs. Chapin lived in the home until her death in 1956, when Henry Ford II and his wife Anne bought the property. Ford owned the estate until 1983, when he tore down the house and split the land to build condominiums.
In 1954, Nash Kelvinator merged with Hudson in a merger that both companies agreed to. The new company, American Motors Corporation (AMC), continued operating until Chrysler bought it in 1987. Chapin's son, Roy D. Chapin Jr., was chairman and chief executive officer of AMC and helped the company acquire Kaiser Jeep Corporation in 1970. Chapin was added to the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1972. His grandson, William R. Chapin, became president of the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2010.