Henry Flagler
Also known as: Flagler
Deceased (Historical Figure)
Miami Connection
Flagler developed Miami from an unincorporated wilderness into a commercial hub by establishing the Royal Palm Hotel in 1897 and extending the Florida East Coast Railway to the city. He financed essential infrastructure including streets, water systems, power systems, and the city's first newspaper, the Metropolis. Though residents wished to name the city after him, Flagler persuaded them to adopt the Indian name Miami instead, earning him the title Father of Miami.
About
Henry Morrison Flagler (January 2, 1830 – May 20, 1913) was born in Hopewell, New York, and built an immense fortune as a founding partner of Standard Oil alongside John D. Rockefeller. After visiting Florida in 1878 for his wife's health, Flagler recognized the state's development potential and withdrew from Standard Oil operations to pursue real estate and railroad ventures. He acquired existing railroads and established the Florida East Coast Railway, extending it from St. Augustine southward to Key West by 1912. Flagler constructed a chain of grand hotels including the Hotel Ponce de Leon in St. Augustine, the Royal Poinciana and Breakers in Palm Beach, and the Royal Palm in Miami. His partnership with entrepreneur Julia Tuttle, who convinced him to extend his railroad to Miami after the 1894-95 freeze, led to Miami's official incorporation in 1896. By his death in 1913, Flagler had fundamentally reshaped Florida's economy and landscape.