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John Fairchild Dryden Biography

John Fairchild Dryden Image

DRYDEN, John Fairchild (1839-1911). An American insurance official, born near Farmington, Me. After attending Yale College he entered business as a life-insurance agent. In 1873 be founded the Widows' and Orphans' Friendly Society, the successor of which (1875), the Prudential Life Insurance Company, became one of the greatest corporations of its kind in the United States. Dryden was a presidential elector in 1896 and 1900, and, to fill an unexpired term, he was United States Senator from 1902 to 1907. As a candidate in the latter year for election for a full term, he met so much opposition that he withdrew in favor of John Kean. He was one of the organizers of the Public Service Corporation of New Jersey and was interested in other financial and industrial concerns. He published Addresses and Papers on Life Insurance and Other Subjects (1909) and also other lectures and speeches.

The New International Encyclopaedia, Vol. VII (New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1920) 279.