E. Roland Harriman
A quiet, powerful Harriman brother who channeled the family fortune into building the modern American Red Cross and preserving wilderness.
1895–1978 (age 83)·American financier and philanthropist·Birthday: December 24·The Lost Generation
Biography
E. Roland "Bunny" Harriman operated in the long shadow of his more famous older brother, Averell, but his impact on American civic life was profound and enduring. Where Averell pursued diplomacy and politics, Roland focused on finance and philanthropy with a steady, unshowy determination. As a senior partner at Brown Brothers Harriman, he helped steward the family's Wall Street interests. His true legacy, however, was forged through giving. He served as Chairman of the American Red Cross for over two decades, transforming it into a more professional, nationally responsive organization, especially during World War II and the Korean War. Simultaneously, he was a driving force in conservation, using his role as a longtime chairman of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission to protect vast tracts of land in New York and New Jersey. A man who disliked publicity, Harriman believed wealth was a tool for institution-building, leaving behind stronger public organizations and protected natural spaces as his monument.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
E. was born in 1895, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When E. Was Born
The biggest hits of 1895
E.'s Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1895Born
First public film screening by the Lumiere brothers
President: Grover Cleveland
1900Started school
Boxer Rebellion in China
President: William McKinley
1908Became a teenager
Ford Model T goes into production
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1911Could drive
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 146 in New York
President: William Howard Taft
1913Could vote
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1916Turned 21
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1925Turned 30
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1935Turned 40
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1945Turned 50
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1955Turned 60
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1965Turned 70
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1975Turned 80
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1978Died at 83
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
Key Achievements
- Served as Chairman of the American National Red Cross from 1950 to 1973, modernizing its operations and reach.
- Acted as Chairman of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission for 33 years, preserving thousands of acres of parkland.
- Was a leading partner in the investment bank Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
Did You Know?
His nickname "Bunny" originated in childhood.
He was a champion bobsledder in his youth and competed in the 1928 Winter Olympics.
He and his brother Averell co-founded the Sun Valley ski resort in Idaho.
Despite his wealth, he was known for his modest personal habits and dislike of social pomp.
“The best use of money is to build things that last for everyone.”
