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{{Short description|American businessman (1849–1918)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name =Francis Edgar Stanley
| image = Francis Edgar Stanley c1882.jpg
| image = Francis Edgar Stanley c1882.jpg
| caption = Stanley in c. 1882
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1849|6|1}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1849|6|1}}
| birth_place =[[Kingfield, Maine]], US
| birth_place =[[Kingfield, Maine]], US
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| known_for =[[Stanley Steamer]]
| known_for =[[Stanley Steamer]]
| education =[[University of Maine at Farmington|Western State Normal School]]
| education =[[University of Maine at Farmington|Western State Normal School]]
| relatives =[[Freelan Oscar Stanley]], brother
| relatives =[[Freelan Oscar Stanley]] (twin brother)
| signature = Signature of Francis Edgar Stanley (1849–1918).png
}}
}}
'''Francis Edgar Stanley''', also known as '''F. E. Stanley''' (June 1, 1849 – July 31, 1918), was an American businessman and was the co-founder, along with his twin brother [[Freelan Oscar Stanley]], of the Stanley Motor Carriage Company which built the [[Stanley Steamer]].
'''Francis Edgar Stanley''', also known as '''F. E. Stanley''' (June 1, 1849 – July 31, 1918), was an American businessman and was the co-founder, along with his twin brother [[Freelan Oscar Stanley]], of the Stanley Motor Carriage Company which built the [[Stanley Steamer]].


==Biography==
==Biography==
He and his twin brother, Freelan Oscar Stanslee (otherwise known as Free, or more often F. O.) learned to carve violins as taught by their grandfather, Liberty Stanley, at the age of ten. He attended Western State Normal School, now known as the [[University of Maine at Farmington]].<ref>http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/640899/Western-State-Normal-School</ref> While F. O. initially became a teacher, F. E. took a different path, moving to [[Lewiston, Maine]] and opening a photography studio in 1874. Within a few years, the studio was one of the largest in New England, and his twin brother eventually joined him in the business.<ref name=Cicala>{{cite web|url=http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2013/01/the-most-interesting-photographer-ever-is-twins-actually |title=The Most Interesting Photographer Ever Is... |first=Roger |last=Cicala |publisher=LensRentals.com |date=January 15, 2013 |access-date=August 8, 2014}}</ref> During that time, F. E. patented the first photographic airbrush, which he used to colorize photos.<ref name=Cicala/>
He and his twin brother, Freelan Oscar Stanley (otherwise known as Free, or more often Freelan) learned to carve violins as taught by their grandfather, Liberty Stanley, at the age of ten. He attended Western State Normal School, now known as the [[University of Maine at Farmington]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/640899/Western-State-Normal-School|title = Western State Normal School &#124; school, Farmington, Maine, United States &#124; Britannica}}</ref> While Freelan initially became a teacher, Francis took a different path, moving to [[Lewiston, Maine]] and opening a photography studio in 1874. Within a few years, the studio was one of the largest in New England, and his twin brother eventually joined him in the business.<ref name=Cicala>{{cite web|url=http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2013/01/the-most-interesting-photographer-ever-is-twins-actually |title=The Most Interesting Photographer Ever Is... |first=Roger |last=Cicala |publisher=LensRentals.com |date=January 15, 2013 |access-date=August 8, 2014}}</ref> During that time, Francis patented the first photographic airbrush, which he used to colorize photos.<ref name=Cicala/>
[[File:Stanley Brothers in one of their steam cars.jpg|thumb|The Stanley Brothers in one of their steam cars circa 1898|262x262px]]

Several years later, they were dissatisfied with the quality of the dry plates that at the time were entering major use in the industry. They patented a machine for coating mass quantities of dry plates, and set up the Stanley Dry Plate Company in [[Watertown, Massachusetts]] (the company was later moved to [[Rochester, New York]]). By the 1890s, that business had over $1 million in annual sales.<ref name=Cicala/> However, the brothers abandoned photography when they became interested in automobile development,<ref name=Cicala/> and sold the dry plate business to George Eastman of Eastman-Kodak for $500,000. However, the family's connection to photography continued with the career of the Stanley twins' younger sister, [[Chansonetta Stanley Emmons]].
Several years later, they were dissatisfied with the quality of the dry plates that at the time were entering major use in the industry. They patented a machine for coating mass quantities of dry plates, and set up the Stanley Dry Plate Company [[Watertown, Massachusetts]] (the company was later moved to [[Rochester, New York]]). By the 1890s, that business had over $1 million in annual sales.<ref name=Cicala/> However, the brothers abandoned photography when they became interested in automobile development,<ref name=Cicala/> and sold the dry plate business to George Eastman of Eastman-Kodak for $500,000. However, the family's connection to photography continued with the career of the Stanley twins' younger sister, [[Chansonetta Stanley Emmons]]. [[Stanley Motor Carriage Company|The Stanley Motor Carriage Company]], the next business venture of the brothers, was a [[steam car]] manufacturing company based in [[Newton, Massachusetts]]. It was founded in 1897 by Francis and Freelan Stanley. The brothers designed their first car that very year, which became a hit among the wealthy automobile enthusiasts. A Stanley steam car, the "Rocket", achieved the land speed record in 1906, at 127.6 mph.


He died in 1918 in [[Wenham, Massachusetts]] when he drove his car into a woodpile while attempting to avoid farm wagons travelling side by side on the road.<ref name="MAGDE">{{cite book |editor=Doris A. Isaacson |title=Maine: A Guide Down East |year=1970 |publisher=Courier-Gazette, Inc. |agency=Maine League of Historical Societies and Museums| page = 386 }}</ref>
He died in 1918 in [[Wenham, Massachusetts]] when he drove his car into a woodpile while attempting to avoid farm wagons travelling side by side on the road.<ref name="MAGDE">{{cite book |editor=Doris A. Isaacson |title=Maine: A Guide Down East |year=1970 |publisher=Courier-Gazette, Inc. |agency=Maine League of Historical Societies and Museums| page = 386 }}</ref>
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{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{1996 Automotive Hall of Fame}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


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[[Category:People from Kingfield, Maine]]
[[Category:People from Kingfield, Maine]]
[[Category:Identical twins]]
[[Category:Identical twins]]
[[Category:Twin people from the United States]]
[[Category:American twins]]
[[Category:American founders of automobile manufacturers]]
[[Category:American founders of automobile manufacturers]]
[[Category:American photographers]]
[[Category:American photographers]]
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[[Category:University of Maine at Farmington alumni]]
[[Category:University of Maine at Farmington alumni]]
[[Category:19th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:19th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:Inventors killed by own invention]]
[[Category:Inventors killed by their own invention]]

Latest revision as of 10:02, 8 June 2024

Francis Edgar Stanley
Stanley in c. 1882
Born(1849-06-01)June 1, 1849
Kingfield, Maine, US
DiedJuly 31, 1918(1918-07-31) (aged 69)
Wenham, Massachusetts, US
EducationWestern State Normal School
Known forStanley Steamer
RelativesFreelan Oscar Stanley (twin brother)
Signature

Francis Edgar Stanley, also known as F. E. Stanley (June 1, 1849 – July 31, 1918), was an American businessman and was the co-founder, along with his twin brother Freelan Oscar Stanley, of the Stanley Motor Carriage Company which built the Stanley Steamer.

Biography

[edit]

He and his twin brother, Freelan Oscar Stanley (otherwise known as Free, or more often Freelan) learned to carve violins as taught by their grandfather, Liberty Stanley, at the age of ten. He attended Western State Normal School, now known as the University of Maine at Farmington.[1] While Freelan initially became a teacher, Francis took a different path, moving to Lewiston, Maine and opening a photography studio in 1874. Within a few years, the studio was one of the largest in New England, and his twin brother eventually joined him in the business.[2] During that time, Francis patented the first photographic airbrush, which he used to colorize photos.[2]

The Stanley Brothers in one of their steam cars circa 1898

Several years later, they were dissatisfied with the quality of the dry plates that at the time were entering major use in the industry. They patented a machine for coating mass quantities of dry plates, and set up the Stanley Dry Plate Company Watertown, Massachusetts (the company was later moved to Rochester, New York). By the 1890s, that business had over $1 million in annual sales.[2] However, the brothers abandoned photography when they became interested in automobile development,[2] and sold the dry plate business to George Eastman of Eastman-Kodak for $500,000. However, the family's connection to photography continued with the career of the Stanley twins' younger sister, Chansonetta Stanley Emmons. The Stanley Motor Carriage Company, the next business venture of the brothers, was a steam car manufacturing company based in Newton, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1897 by Francis and Freelan Stanley. The brothers designed their first car that very year, which became a hit among the wealthy automobile enthusiasts. A Stanley steam car, the "Rocket", achieved the land speed record in 1906, at 127.6 mph.

He died in 1918 in Wenham, Massachusetts when he drove his car into a woodpile while attempting to avoid farm wagons travelling side by side on the road.[3]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Western State Normal School | school, Farmington, Maine, United States | Britannica".
  2. ^ a b c d Cicala, Roger (January 15, 2013). "The Most Interesting Photographer Ever Is..." LensRentals.com. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  3. ^ Doris A. Isaacson, ed. (1970). Maine: A Guide Down East. Courier-Gazette, Inc. p. 386. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
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