Philip Breitmeyer

Philip Breitmeyer (May 13, 1864 – November 8, 1941) was a florist, one of the founders of Florists' Telegraph Delivery (now Florists' Transworld Delivery, or FTD), and the mayor of Detroit, Michigan.

Philip Breitmeyer
44th Mayor of Detroit, Michigan
In office
1909–1910
Preceded byWilliam Barlum Thompson
Succeeded byWilliam Barlum Thompson
Personal details
BornMay 13, 1864 (1864-05-13)
Detroit, Michigan
DiedNovember 8, 1941 (1941-11-09) (aged 77)
Detroit, Michigan
SpouseKatie Grass
ProfessionFlorist

Biography

Philip Breitmeyer was born in Detroit on May 13, 1864, the son of John and Fredericka Schneider Breitmeyer.[1][2] He was educated in the public schools of the city, and joined the family florist business, John Breitmeyer & Sons.[1] He soon became president of the firm, and after his father's death bought out his brothers to become sole owner of the firm.[2] The business grew rapidly, and they built a new building to house the firm, now the Breitmeyer-Tobin Building.[1]

Breitmeyer was one of the organizers, and served as president, of Florists' Telegraph Delivery (now Florists' Transworld Delivery, or FTD).[2] He was president of the American Society of Florists,[2] president of the Michigan Cut Flower Exchange, vice-president of the German-American Bank[1] director of the Lohrman Seed Company, and president of the Detroit National Fire Insurance Company.[2]

In 1886, Breitmeyer married Katie Grass. The couple had three children, Philip Jr, Harry G. and Katherine.[1][2]

Politics

Breitmeyer was appointed by George P. Codd as Commissioner of Parks and Boulevards for the city of Detroit,[1] a position he held for two years.[2] So well did he perform that he was nominated as the Republican candidate for mayor, and was elected for a term in 1909-1910.[1]

Breitmeyer ran again for mayor in 1933, but was soundly defeated by James Couzens's son Frank.[3] He also served for two years, 1938-1939, on the Detroit City Council.[4]

Philip Breitmeyer died on November 8, 1941.[5]

References
  1. The government of the city of Detroit and Wayne County, Michigan: 1701 to 1907, historical and biographical, 1907, pp. 145–146, ISBN 9780598455529
  2. Clarence Monroe Burton; William Stocking; Gordon K. Miller (1922), The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922; Volume 3, The S. J. Clarke publishing company, pp. 636–637
  3. "In Detroit, Couzens is Big Winner". The Border Cities Star. Nov 8, 1933.
  4. "Detroit City Council, 1919 to present". Detroit Public Library. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
  5. Maxine Block; E. Mary Trow (1942), Current Biography: Who's News and Why, 1942, Hw Wilson Co, p. 105, ISBN 0-8242-0479-4

Further reading
  • Elbert Hubbard (1913), Detroit the Artistic: Being an Appreciation of Breitmeyer's the House of Flowers, C. A. Weed & Co.
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