Robert S. Lovett

Robert Scott Lovett (June 22, 1860 – June 19, 1932) was an American lawyer and railroad executive. He was president and chairman of the board of the Union Pacific Railroad and a Director of both The National City Bank of New York and Western Union.^[1]

Robert S. Lovett
Born	Robert Scott Lovett (1860-06-22)June 22, 1860 San Jacinto, Texas, U.S.
Died	June 19, 1932(1932-06-19) (aged 71) Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Resting place	Locust Valley Cemetery, Locust Valley, New York, U.S.
Spouse	Lavinia Chilton Abercrombie ​ ​ (m. 1890; died 1928)​
Children	Robert A. Lovett

Biography

Early life

Robert Scott Lovett was born in San Jacinto, Texas.^[2] He was the son of William Lovett and Susan Hardy Lovett. His mother died in 1861 when Robert was only one year old; he was raised by Sarah Elizabeth "Sally" Hood Lovett, his father's second wife.^{[citation needed]} He attended Houston High School.^[2] Lovett studied law privately and was admitted to the bar in 1882.^[2]

Career

Lovett served as counsel for the Houston East & West Texas Railroad from 1884 to 1889. He then served as council for Texas and Pacific Railway from 1891 to 1903.^[2]

From 1904 to 1909 Robert S. Lovett was general counsel, and after 1909 president, of the E. H. Harriman system of railroads—the Union Pacific and Southern Pacific. In the wake of the Northern Securities Case he was compelled to dissolve the Southern Pacific and Union Pacific merger in 1913. In 1914 he accepted directorships in the New York Central and Nickel Plate railroads. Consequently, the Lovett family settled into a "Gold Coast" mansion at Locust Valley, New York.^{[citation needed]} During World War I, he served as commissioner of the priorities committee of the War Industries Board. He resigned the role in 1918 and was succeeded by Edwin B. Parker. He then joined the Railroad Administration as director of capital expenditures.^[3] He became president of the Union Pacific in 1919 and served in that role until his appointment as chairman of the board of directors on March 1, 1920.^[4]

Personal life

On October 29, 1890, Lovett married Lavinia Chilton Abercrombie,^{[4][citation needed]} daughter of lawyer and Texas state senator Leonard A. Abercrombie, granddaughter of Justice William Parish Chilton.^{[citation needed]} His wife died in 1928.^[2] Their only child was noted politician Robert A. Lovett.^[2] He lived in Candelight,

Lovett died on July 19, 1932, at the Medical Center in Manhattan.^[4]

Legacy

In World War II, the United States Liberty ship SS Robert S. Lovett was named in his honor.

See also

• List of railroad executives