Births on February 17

Thomas J. Watson

Born on February 17, 1874

Thomas J. Watson, American businessman (d. 1956)

Thomas John Watson Sr. (February 17, 1874 – June 19, 1956) was an American businessman who served as the chairman and CEO of IBM. He oversaw the company's growth into an international force from 1914 to 1956. Watson developed IBM's management style and corporate culture from John Henry Patterson's training at NCR. He turned the company into a highly effective selling organization, based largely on punched card tabulating machines. A leading self-made industrialist, he was one of the richest men of his time and was called the world's greatest salesman when he died in 1956.

References

Thomas J. Watson

Choose Another Date

Events on 1874

28 Feb

Tichborne case
One of the longest cases ever heard in an English court ends when the defendant is convicted of perjury for attempting to assume the identity of the heir to the Tichborne baronetcy.
15 Mar

Second Treaty of Saigon
France and Viet Nam sign the Second Treaty of Saigon, further recognizing the full sovereignty of France over Cochinchina.
27 May

Gert Alberts
The first group of Dorsland trekkers under the leadership of Gert Alberts leaves Pretoria.
7 Nov

Thomas Nast
A cartoon by Thomas Nast in Harper's Weekly, is considered the first important use of an elephant as a symbol for the United States Republican Party.
25 Nov

Panic of 1873
The United States Greenback Party is established as a political party consisting primarily of farmers affected by the Panic of 1873.

Births on February 17

Thomas J. Watson

Born on February 17, 1874

References

Choose Another Date

Events on 1874

Tichborne case

Second Treaty of Saigon

Gert Alberts

Thomas Nast

Panic of 1873