Henry Wells
He built the financial arteries of a growing nation, founding the companies that became American Express and Wells Fargo.
1805–1878 (age 73)·American businessman·Birthday: December 12
Biography
Henry Wells began his career as a freight agent on the Erie Canal, a gritty apprenticeship that taught him the urgent need for reliable transport of goods, money, and mail. Seeing opportunity in chaos, he co-founded an express company that boldly undercut U.S. Post Office rates, stitching together commerce across a fractured landscape. His vision crystallized into two enduring pillars: American Express, which revolutionized financial security for travelers, and Wells Fargo, which became synonymous with westward expansion and banking. Later in life, Wells channeled his fortune into founding Wells College in Aurora, New York, insisting on a rigorous education for women at a time when such an idea was radical. His legacy is not merely corporate but foundational, having shaped how America moved, paid, and learned.
#1 When Henry Was Born
The biggest hits of 1805
Henry's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1805Born
1810Started school
1818Became a teenager
1821Could drive
1823Could vote
1826Turned 21
1835Turned 30
1845Turned 40
1855Turned 50
1865Turned 60
President: Andrew Johnson
1875Turned 70
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1878Died at 73
President: Rutherford B. Hayes
Key Achievements
- Co-founded the express company that evolved into the American Express Company.
- Was a principal founder of Wells Fargo & Company, a cornerstone of western finance and transport.
- Established Wells College in 1870 as a pioneering institution for the higher education of women.
- His express networks successfully competed with the U.S. Post Office by offering faster, cheaper mail service.
Did You Know?
He initially worked as a freight agent and later as a postmaster, giving him direct insight into logistical shortcomings.
Wells College was originally called the Wells Seminary for Women.
He was a strong abolitionist and his home in Aurora was a stop on the Underground Railroad.
“The express business is not a matter of sentiment; it is a matter of dollars and cents.”
