Career
Born in Warren, Ohio, the Packard brothers founded Packard Electric Company there in 1890 and manufactured incandescent carbon arc lamps. The first Packard automobile was released in 1899. In 1900, the company incorporated as the Ohio Automobile Company and was renamed the Packard Motor Carolina Company in 1902.
The company relocated to Detroit in 1903.
The company eventually merged with the Studebaker Corporation in 1954, and the last Packard was made in 1958. Following Packard Motor Company"s relocation to Detroit, the Packard brothers focused on making automotive electrical systems through the separate Packard Electric Company.
General Motors acquired Packard Electric in 1932, renaming it Delphi Packard Electric Systems in 1995. The company was spun off and became independent of General Motors in 1999.
In 1915, West.D. Packard commissioned a summer home to be designed by a famous architectural firm in New York City, Warren and Wetmore.
This home is located on the Chautauqua Institution. lieutenant still serves as a single-family residence. There is a duplicate in Warren, Ohio.
Packard Park in Warren, Ohio is on land donated by Packard, and the West.D. Packard Music Hall and Packard Band were funded by him.