Flagler, Henry M

Flagler, Henry M(orrison)

(born , Jan. 2, 1830, Hopewell, N.Y., U.S.—died May 20, 1913, West Palm Beach, Fla.) U.S. financier. He initially worked as a grain merchant. His friendship with John D. Rockefeller led to their establishing a firm that in 1870 became the Standard Oil Co. Flagler served as a director of Standard Oil of New Jersey until 1911. He was hugely influential in the development of Florida as a vacation centre, involving himself in such enterprises as extending the Florida East Coast Railway, dredging Miami's harbour, and the construction of a chain of luxury hotels.