Henry Wells
Henry Wells was an American expressman who co-founded American Express in 1850 and Wells, Fargo and Company in 1852, and later founded Wells College.
What they did and why it matters
Wells built express companies that turned package delivery into a national business, one of the roots of today's parcel carrier industry. American Express was formed in 1850 by merging the express firms of Wells, William Fargo, and John Butterfield, and Wells Fargo was organized in 1852 to provide express and banking services to California during the gold rush. These firms moved parcels, gold, and documents under guarantee. The idea of a carrier that takes responsibility for a shipment from pickup to delivery, with tracking and claims, began with express companies like his.
Related people
Events
Sources
- Henry Wells (Britannica Money) britannica.com
- Wells, Henry (Encyclopedia.com) encyclopedia.com