Elihu B. Frost
Elihu Brintnal Frost (May 12, 1860-August 22, 1925) was an American lawyer[1] with an early involvement in the submarine industry.
Born in Peekskill, New York, Frost was the son of lawyer Calvin Frost and Mary Antoinette Oppie (Hait) Frost.[2] He attended Peekskill Military Academy and graduated from Yale University in 1883, where he was a member of Skull and Bones.[2] He studied at Columbia Law School and initially worked for Lord Day & Lord.[2]
In 1893 the United States Congress funded a $200,000 prize for submarine construction, and Frost lent John Philip Holland the funds he needed to participate in this prize contest; Frost and Holland were finally awarded the prize money in 1895. Frost became secretary-treasurer and later president of Holland's firm, which was first named the John P. Holland Torpedo Boat Company and later the Holland Submarine Company.[3] When Isaac Rice formed the Electric Boat Company (the predecessor of General Dynamics) to build Holland's submarine designs, Frost became the company's vice-president, secretary, and chief financial officer.
Prominently reported in the newspapers of the time, Frost married and divorced twice.[4][5][6][7][8][9] When he died of paresis in Beach Bluff, Massachusetts,[2] he left his estate to a female friend (later determined to be his fiancée), cutting off his relatives.[10][11]
References
- ^ "The Bar Association", New York Times, March 11, 1891. Describes the election of Frost and 16 others to the New York Bar Association.
- ^ a b c d http://mssa.library.yale.edu/obituary_record/1925_1952/1925-26.pdf
- ^ Morris, Richard Knowles (1998), John P. Holland, 1841-1914: Inventor of the Modern Submarine, University of South Carolina Press, ISBN 1-57003-236-X.
- ^ "Mrs. Frost Asks Divorce; Wife of President of Holland Submarine Company Files Suit in Nevada", New York Times, December 3, 1909.
- ^ "Mrs. Marie Frost Divorced; Decree Granted to Her Behind Closed Doors in Reno", New York Times, December 20, 1909.
- ^ "E.B. Frost Married Again; Prominent Attorney, Divorced, Wed Rosalind Harrington June 18", New York Times, June 29, 1915.
- ^ "E.B. Frosts Posts Wife; Hearing on Divorce Application Announced in Atlantic City", New York Times, January 22, 1920.
- ^ "Frost, Suing Wife, Names Man in Case; George Hassan Is Revealed as Co-respondent in Corporation Lawyer's Divorce Action. Hotel Meeting Charged; Young Defendant Is Second Wife of Former Head of Holland Launch Company", New York Times, January 23, 1920.
- ^ "Mrs. Frost Files Answer; Alleges Cruelty Against Husband and Names Co-respondents", New York Times, February 13, 1920.
- ^ "Elihu Frost Estate Left to a Woman; Submarine Builder Made Mrs. Helen Evans Beneficiary; Cut Off Relatives. Disposition to be Fought – Contestants Engage Six Law Firms – Incompetency and Undue Influence Charged", New York Times, October 25, 1925.
- ^ "Bulk of Frost Estate Goes to his Fiancée; Mrs. Helen E. Evans Received $345,337 Under Will of Late Corporation Lawyer", New York Times, December 16, 1926.
External links
- Biography on U.S. Navy web site
- "Morris view of Holland more widely accepted in our era" Electric Boat/General Dynamics web site
- [1] Elihu B. Frost's role with John P. Holland's company is acknowledged at this site. Look under people & places/Elihu B. Frost.