Haley Fiske

Haley Fiske (March 18, 1852 – March 4, 1929) was an American lawyer who served as President of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.

Early life

Fiske was born on March 18, 1852, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He was a son of William Henry Fiske and Sarah Ann (née Blakeney) Fiske. His namesake grandfather, Haley Fiske, had established an iron foundry in New Brunswick which his sons continued after the U.S. Civil War.[1]

He was educated at privately by Henry Waters in New Brunswick before attending Rutgers College from where he graduated in 1871.[1]

Career
Elisha Lee, W.S. Carter, W.F. Morgan, J. Davies, H. Garrod, Haley Fiske, Amos, Warren Stone, R. M. Easley, O. Straus, C.W. Bowerman, A. Belmont, J.H. Thomas, S. Gompers

After his graduation from Rutgers, he worked as a reporter for local newspapers for two years before becoming a clerk in the New York law firm of Arnoux, Ritch & Woodford. The firm was counsel for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and, following his admission to the bar, he managed the company's litigation, eventually becoming a partner in the firm.[1]

When John R. Hegeman became president of Metropolitan Life in 1891, he brought Fiske in as a vice president. After Hegeman died in 1919, Fiske was elected to succeed him as president of Metropolitan Life, which at the time was "the largest financial institution in the world."[1]

Personal life

On January 10, 1878, Fiske was married to Mary Garrettena Mulford (1856–1886). Before her death on February 3, 1886, they were the parents of:

  • Helen Fiske (b. 1884)[2]

After his first wife's death, he married Marione Cowles Cushman (1867–1946),[3] the daughter of Archibald Falconer Cushman and Sarah Ann (née Cowles) Cushman, on April 27, 1887.[4] Together, they had a home in Bernardsville, N.J. and New York City, were the parents of:[1]

  • Archibald Falconer Cushman Fiske (1888–1931)[5][6]
  • Marione Virginia Fiske, who married Kenneth Clark Johnson.[7]
  • Katherine Cushman Fiske, who married Emmons Parkman Burrill.[8]
  • Margaret Louise Fiske, who married John Speicher,[3] and, later, Stalcoskie.[9]
  • Haley Fiske, Jr. (1897–1961),[10] who married Helen Lowe Rice, a daughter of William Lowe Rice (founder of the law firm known today as Jones Day).[11]

Fiske died in his automobile in front of his home at 898 Park Avenue after returning from Church on March 4, 1929.[12] His entire estate was left to his widow and children.[13][14] His widow died on December 31, 1946, at 10 Campden Road, her home in Scarsdale, New York.[3]

References
  1. Hannan, Caryn (1 January 2008). New Jersey Biographical Dictionary. State History Publications. pp. 349–250. ISBN 978-1-878592-45-3. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  2. Pierce, Frederick Clifton (1 January 1896). Fiske and Fisk family. Dalcassian Publishing Company. pp. 570–571. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  3. TIMES, Special to THE NEW YORK (1 January 1947). "MRS. HALEY FISKE, 80, LED IN CHURCH WORK". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  4. "YESTERDAY'S WEDDINGS.; HAPPY EVENTS WHICH INTERESTED THE WORLD OF SOCIETY". The New York Times. 28 April 1887. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  5. Who's who in Canada. International Press. 1927. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  6. Marceau, Photo by (8 September 1931). "ARCHIBALD FISKE DIES ON PARIS VISIT; Second Vice President of the Metropolitan Life a Victim of Diabetes at 43. SON OF LATE PRESIDENT Gave Up Law, Became Company Agent Without Father's Knowledge and Won Success From Start. His First Job on a Newspaper. Presided at Conventions". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  7. "Deaths: JOHNSON—Kenneth Clark". The New York Times. 18 June 1979. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  8. "KATHERINE C. FISKE WED TO CLERGYMAN; Married in Cathedral Here to Rev. Emmons Burrill". The New York Times. 30 September 1938. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  9. Appeals, New York (State) Court of (1951). New York Court of Appeals. Records and Briefs. p. 262. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  10. "HALEY FISKE JR". The New York Times. 4 June 1961. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  11. "WEDDINGS OF THE MONTH; Miss Helen Lowe Rice to Be Married on Wednesday at St. Thomas's". The New York Times. 5 October 1924. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  12. Dagas, From a painting by Miss C. (4 March 1929). "HALEY FISKE DIES AT 77 IN HIS AUTO IN FRONT OF HOME; President of Metropolitan Life Stricken by Heart Attack Returning From Church. LEADER IN PUBLIC HEALTH Also Sponsored City Housing Experiments--His Company Became World's Biggest. Remarked He Felt Well. HALEY FISKE DIES AT 77 IN HIS AUTO Helped Girl at Church. Friends Recall Vigor. FISKE ROSE FROM LEGAL JOB. Record as Counsel Won Him Vice Presidency of Metropolitan Life. Worked as a Reporter. Elected Vice President. Arranged for Bonuses. Became President in 1919. Quick to Use the Radio. Three Chief Interests in Life. Predicted Insurance for Jobless. Aided Wilson Fund Drive". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  13. "HALEY FISKE LEFT FORTUNE TO FAMILY; Widow and Six Children to Get Most in Trust--Value Not Determined. MRS. GOELET'S WILL FILED Her Daughter, Duchess of Roxburghe, and Son Robert toShare Her Millions". The New York Times. 9 March 1929. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  14. "HALEY FISKE ESTATE PUT AT $829,011 NET; Insurance Man Had $780,941 in Securities, $130,073 Insurance and $20,672 Cash.WIDOW GETS LIFE INTEREST Lee E. Beaumont Left $689,872 to His Widow in Trust--Grand niece and Nephew Benefit". The New York Times. 28 January 1930. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
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