Frick, Henry C.

Frick, Henry C. (Clay) (1849–1919) industrialist, art collector, philanthropist; born in West Overton, Pa. With slight formal education, he worked at various jobs. He organized Frick and Company in 1871 to build and operate coke ovens near Pittsburgh, Pa.; by 1889 he controlled two-thirds of the capacity in the area. By 1882 Frick was associated with Andrew Carnegie and he became chairman of Carnegie Steel (1889–1900). Frick led the company through the Homestead (Pa.) labor strike of 1892, during which he was shot and stabbed by Alexander Berkman; Frick calmly telegraphed Carnegie (who was in Scotland) before seeking treatment. In 1901 he became director of U.S. Steel Corporation. A serious art collector, he bequeathed his New York City home and his art as a public museum. He also gave large sums of money to various educational and medical institutions and donated a large park to Pittsburgh.