Libbey, Edward Drummond

Libbey, Edward Drummond (1854–1925) glassmaker, philanthropist; born in Chelsea, Mass. After attending Boston University, he worked for the New England Glass Company (1874), becoming president (1883–86). He opened the Libbey Glass Company in Toledo, Ohio, in 1888, sponsoring a demonstration plant at the Chicago exposition of 1893. His success depended heavily on the inventions of Michael Owens; Libbey later founded the Owens Bottle Machine Company (1903) with exclusive rights to manufacture glass bottles, and the Libbey-Owens Sheet Glass Company (1916), serving as president of both firms. He organized the Toledo Art Museum in 1901, serving as its president (1901–25), funding building construction, and bequeathing to the museum his collection of Dutch and English art.