Background
He was born in Woodford, Vermont, and his father built mills and waterwheels.
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Franklin Walter Olin
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He studied civil engineering at Cornell University, where he also played baseball. He would play as an outfielder in the American Association for two seasons.
Career
After graduating with the class of 1886, he worked in several jobs before founding a blasting powder mill construction business. His first opened in East Alton, Illinois, in 1892. He formed the Western Cartridge Company in 1898 to manufacture ammunition, and during World War I diversified into brassmaking for use in cartridge shells.
In 1931 Olin acquired the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.
They had three sons, Franklin West. Junior. (predeceased), John, and Spencer, all three of whom also graduated from Cornell.
He died in Saint Louis, Missouri, in 1951. A portion of his fortune was willed to the Franklin West. Olin Foundation, which endowed numerous buildings and professorships in his name at college campuses across the United States.
In 1997, the foundation established Franklin West. Olin College of Engineering in Needham, Massachusetts.
