Helen Grace (1914 - 2002)

Businesswoman. With her former husband W.T. Grace together they founded the company “Helen Grace Candy”. He began his career as a candy assistant, then formed his own putting her name on the company. (bio by: Graving Queen of the OC)  Family links:  Spouse:  W.T. Grace (1907 – 1989)* *Calculated relationship

Jay Gould (1836 - 1892)

Businessman. He was born into poverty on May 27, 1836 in Roxbury, New York.  Too frail for farming, Gould’s early career in land surveying and commodity speculation got him interested in railroad stocks, which were the high-growth glamour issues of the day. In 1859 he moved to New York City, where he became a broker […]

Sam Goody (1904 - 1991)

Record Store Magnate.  Family links:  Spouse:  Sadie Goody (1911 – 1996)*  Children:  Howard Goody (1942 – 2002)* *Calculated relationship

Julian Goodman (1922 - 2012)

Television Executive. In 1945, he began at the NBC television studios as a correspondent during the formative years of television news and entertainment, going on to set industry standards. He rose through the ranks to become executive vice president, chief executive officer and retired as chairman of the NBC Television Network in 1979. In his […]

Samuel Gompers (1850 - 1924)

Labor Leader. He was born in London and together with his family immigrated to America in 1863. They lived on the Lower East Side, where he found work as a cigar-maker. In 1864 he joined the Cigar Makers’ International Union. He became an American citizen in 1872. Gompers had seen what things were like for […]

Leon Shaffer Golnick (1913 - 1999)

Businessman. Pioneer of syndicated automotive and financial advertising, and was the founder of Golnick Advertising in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. As a youth was a vaudeville song-and-dance man.

Phillip York Goldman (1964 - 2003)

Businessman, Scientist. A Silicon Valley engineer and entrepreneur, he was a Princeton University computer science graduate and also won 19 patents. He worked for Apple Computers and General Magic, before being one of the three founding members of Webtv Inc. After the sale of Webtv Inc. to Microsoft, he founded Mailblocks where he was working […]

Solomon Harry “Sol” Goldberg (1880 - 1940)

Businessman. He founded the Hump Hairpin Manufacturing Company in Chicago, Illinois, making his fortune when in 1915 he patented a hairpin made with ridges so they would not fall out of hair.

Larry Goldberg (1934 - 2003)

Businessman. Owner of several pizza establishments in New York City known as Goldberg’s Pizza. Winner of the best pizza award for many years. Author of the books “Controlled Cheating: The Fats Goldberg,” “Take It Off, Keep It Off Diet Program” and “The Goldberg’s Pizza Book.”  (bio by: Erik Lander)  Family links:  Parents:  Arthur P. Goldberg […]

Roberto Crispulo Goizueta (1931 - 1997)

Businessman, Philanthropist. He was the Chairman, Director, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Coca-Cola Company from August 1980 until his death in October 1997. Born into a prominent family in Havana, Cuba, his father was an architect and real estate investor and his mother’s family was part owner of a sugar mill. He attended […]

Thomas Blake Glover (1838 - 1911)

Entrepreneur.  Blake was a Scottish merchant who came to Japan in 1959. Soon after his arrivial, he founded the Glover Trading Company in Nagasaki to export gold and silver and to import ships and weapons for the Choshu and Satsuma clans. In 1865, he imported the first locomotive in Japan and later established shipyards and […]

Francis K. Glidden (1855 - 1933)

Businessman. The son of Francis H. Glidden, who founded the Glidden Paint and Varnish Company in Cleveland, Ohio. He started as a secretary for his father and remained in that capacity for much of his career. When his brother Fred became president, he became vice president of the company. He retired when the company was […]

Sam Glazer (1923 - 2012)

Businessman. Co-founder of the Mr. Coffee beverage machine. The son of European-Jewish immigrants, his father died while Sam was a child leaving his mother and siblings to struggle with impoverished circumstances. This harsh experience made an indelible impression on him and shaped his earnest strives towards a highly-successful future in business. Following service with the […]

Stephen Girard (1750 - 1831)

Financier, Businessman, Educator. He attained great wealth as a banker and merchent, and left provisions in his will that created Girard College.

Ellis Gimbel (1865 - 1950)

Department Store Founder.  Family links:  Parents:  Adam Gimbel (1816 – 1896)  Fridoline Kahnweiler Gimbel (1830 – 1886)  Children:  Fridolyn Gimbel Graham (1891 – 1971)*  Ellis A Gimbel (1898 – 1964)*  Richard Gimbel (1898 – 1970)*  Siblings:  Harriet Gimbel Labe (1848 – 1909)*  Julia Gimbel Greenewald (1849 – 1903)*  Jacob Gimbel (1851 – 1922)*  Sallie Gimbel […]

Charles Gimbel (1861 - 1932)

Businessman. He was the founder of the Gimbel’s Department Store.  Family links:  Parents:  Adam Gimbel (1816 – 1896)  Fridoline Kahnweiler Gimbel (1830 – 1886)  Spouse:  Ella Long Gimbel (1865 – 1949)*  Children:  Gertrude Gimbel Dannenbaum (1889 – 1948)*  Siblings:  Harriet Gimbel Labe (1848 – 1909)*  Julia Gimbel Greenewald (1849 – 1903)*  Jacob Gimbel (1851 – […]

Bernard Feustmann Gimbel (1885 - 1966)

Department Store Founder.  Family links:  Parents:  Isaac Gimbel (1857 – 1931)  Rachel Feustmann Gimbel (1863 – 1944)  Spouse:  Alva Bella Bernheimer Gimbel (1893 – 1983)*  Children:  Bruce Alva Gimbel (1913 – 1980)*  Caral Glazier Gimbel Lebworth (1914 – 2008)*  Hope Alva Gimbel Solinger (1914 – 2016)*  Peter Robin Gimbel (1928 – 1987)*  David Alva Gimbel […]

Adam Gimbel (1816 - 1896)

Founder of Gimbel’s Department Stores. Gimbel arrived in American in 1834, and shortly afterwards traveled to Vincennes, Indiana where he opened a trading post. Much of his business was with the Indian’s, trading beads and other items for furs and pelts. He developed a trustworthy reputation with all customers and his motto was well known […]

Earl Bell Gilmore (1887 - 1964)

Entrepreneur. Earl Bell Gilmore was the son of Arthur F. Gilmore, founder of Gilmore Oil Company in Los Angeles. Besides expanding the oil company, Gilmore built the first race track designed specifically for midget racers. He also sponsored Indy cars, and in 1987 was inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame. Last, but […]

King Camp Gillette (1855 - 1932)

Renowned business magnate. Founder of the Gillette Corporation.  Family links:  Parents:  George Wolcott Gillette (1824 – 1903)  Fanny Lemira Camp Gillette (1828 – 1926)  Spouse:  Alanta Ella Gaines Gillette (1868 – 1951)*  Children:  King Gaines Gillette (1891 – 1955)*  Siblings:  Lina Gillette (1850 – 1926)*  George Herman Gillette (1853 – 1915)*  King Camp Gillette (1855 […]

Domenico Ghirardelli (1817 - 1894)

Candy Maker. Ghirardelli was born in Rapallo, Italy. In 1837 he married and moved to Uraguay where he obtained work at a coffee and chocolate business. In 1838 he moved to Peru where he opened his first confectionary store. By 1849 he was attracted to the United States by the prospect of gold. He sailed […]

J. Paul Getty, Jr (1932 - 2003)

Philantropist. John Paul Getty Jr. was the third of five sons of J. Paul Getty, nicknamed “Oklahoma Crude,” who built Getty Oil into a $6 billion fortune, making him the richest man in the world in his day. After attending the University of San Francisco and doing a brief stint in the army, Getty Jr. […]

J. Paul Getty (1892 - 1976)

Industrialist, Philanthropist, Author.  He was born Jean Paul Getty in Minneapolis the son of George Franklin Getty, a lawyer whose business venture became the Minnehoma Oil Company located in Tulsa. The family would settle in Los Angeles where Jean Paul grew up. His education was extensive…attended Harvard Military Academy and Polytechnic High in Los Angeles. […]

Henry George (1839 - 1897)

Economist. He was the grandfather of choreographer Agnes DeMille.  Family links:  Spouse:  Annie Corsina Fox George (1845 – 1904)*  Children:  Henry George (1862 – 1916)*  Richard F. George (1865 – 1912)* *Calculated relationship

Stephen Geary (1970 - 1970)

Highgate Cemetery Founder.  Family links:  Spouse:  Sarah Geary (____ – 1897)* *Calculated relationship

John Warne Gates (1855 - 1911)

Businessman. He started as a barbed wire salesman for Washburne-Moen. In San Antonio, Texas in 1876, his demonstration of the holding power of the wire against long horn cattle resulted in more orders than the company could fill. The company refused to make him a partner, and he went into business with Alfred Clifford, building […]

John W. Garrett (1820 - 1884)

American banker, philanthropist, and president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O). In 1855, he was named to the board of the B&O, and in 1858, became its president, a position he held until the year he died. His tenure was marked by his support for the Union cause during the Civil War, the expansion […]

James Harvey Ganong (1841 - 1888)

Businessman.  He was a co-founder, along with his brother Gilbert Ganong, of Ganong Brothers, Limited, the oldest candy company in Canada.  It was the first company to introduce a heart-shaped box of chocolates in North America, originally used for presents over the Christmas season before it became successful on Valentine’s Day.  The oldest of six […]

Gilbert White Ganong (1851 - 1917)

Canadian Businessman and Politician. He was a co-founder, along with his brother James Ganong, of Ganong Brothers, Limited, the oldest candy company in Canada. It was the first company to introduce a heart-shaped box of chocolates in North America, originally used for presents over the Christmas season before it became successful on Valentine’s Day. One […]

James Norris Gamble (1836 - 1932)

Manufacturer (Proctor & Gamble).  Family links:  Parents:  James Gamble (1803 – 1891)  Elizabeth A. Norris Gamble (1811 – 1888)  Spouse:  Margaret Penrose Gamble (1832 – 1901)*  Children:  Maud Gamble Nippert (____ – 1937)*  Olivia P. Gamble (1875 – 1961)*  Siblings:  James Norris Gamble (1836 – 1932)  Olivia Gamble (1841 – 1850)*  Alex William Gamble (1843 […]