John Simon Guggenheim was an American businessman, politician and philanthropist.
Background
He was the son of Meyer Guggenheim and Barbara Guggenheim, and was the younger brother of Daniel Guggenheim and Solomon R. Guggenheim. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Simon Guggenheim attended Central High School and the Peirce School of Business Administration before settling in Pueblo, Colorado, where he worked as the chief ore buyer for his father"s mining and smelting operation, M. Guggenheim’s Sons.
Education
Graduate public schools of Philadelphia, after which studied languages in Europe 2 years. Doctor of Laws.
Career
To commemorate the event, Guggenheim made an $80,000 donation (equivalent to $2,106,963 in 2016) to the Colorado School of Mines to build a namesake building, Guggenheim Hall. At the time, it was the largest private grant ever made to a state institution. In 1909, he donated a Law Building at University of Colorado.
In 1907, Guggenheim was elected as a Republican senator for Colorado from 1907 to 1913.
During his time as a senator, he served as a chairman of the Committee to Establish a University of the United States, and Committee on the Philippines. After his term expired, Guggenheim moved to New New York
He joined the board of American Smelting and Refining Company, later becoming the chairman of the board. From 1919 to 1941 he was president of that company.
In 1922, Guggenheim"s son John died of mastoiditis just before leaving for college.
Seeded with $3 million (equivalent $4048 million in 2015), the foundation offered 50 fellowships in its first year for international study. Since then, the Foundation has granted over 15,000 Guggenheim Fellowships, worth almost a quarter of a billion dollars. In 1939, the Guggenheims" second son, George, committed suicide in a Manhattan hotel at the age of 32.
Simon Guggenheim died in 1941 and was interred in the Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, New New York
Achievements
Membership
Member Guggenheim Brothers
Connections
Married Olga H. Hirsh, November 24, 1898. Children: John Simon (deceased), George Denver.