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Leader of Lake Shipping Dies Harry Coulby 1865-1929 SIHE death of Harry Coulby on 4) Jan. 17, removed from Great Lakes shipping the personal- ity which had dominated it for many years. Variously called “the Czar of the Great Lakes,” “the Napoleon of lake shipping inter- ests,” he was by far the most power- ful leader of recent years in Great Lakes marine circles. His influence was also deeply felt in industries closely allied with his chosen career. Mr. Coulby had journeyed back to his native England to spend the holidays with his sister in Claypole and two brothers in Newark. His death oc- curred at the Ritz hotel in London where he was stopping preparatory to sailing to the West Indies on his return to America. The story of his life is a romantic tale of tenacious determination backed by keen intelligence, driving onward with a strength of character that overcame adversity and surmounted every obstacle, until success came in wealth, power, influence and in un- disputed leadership in his special field of endeavor. Born on a farm near Nottingham, Eng., Jan. 1, 1865, his school ca- reer terminated when he was 10 years of age. Reading of the great inland lakes of America, and picturing this country as the land of adventure and opportunity, he very early in life de- termined to seek his fortunes across the Atlantic. Following the close of his years in school, he worked on a farm until he was 17, saving enough to pay his passage across to New York. The year 1883 found him in New York, his savings gone and no way of traveling to Cleveland, his chosen destination, except on foot. Walking the 600 miles and working along the way in order to earn his expenses, he reached Cleveland where he had resolved he would become a sailor. The fitting out of the ships had been completed before his arrival, conse- quently, he was compelled to seek em- ployment elsewhere. His early study of shorthand proved to be of value and he obtained em- ployment with the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern railroad as secre- tary to president Newell. This was at the age of 18. His wages of $40 a 42 month were even at that time hardly sufficient for a modest existence and when an increase was refused he terminated his railroad connection. He then became private secretary to Col. John Hay, who was later to become secretary of state and ambassador to England, and who was at that time collaborating with Nicolay in their Life of Abraham Lincoln. During the three years which he spent with Colonel Hay, part of his time was passed in Washington. While there, two opportunities came to him—one with a department of the government for $1800 a year and the other with Samuel Mather in Cleveland. Colonel Hay and Samuel Mather’ were brothers-in-law and the colonel had recommended Mr. Coulby for a posi- tion. Even though the latter paid con- siderably less, Mr. Coulvy decided in favor of it and his acceptance of the position of clerk with the then newly organized firm of Pickands, Mather & Co., terminated his association with Colonel Hay. Mr. Coulby was then 21 years of age. Prosperity came to the company and ae MARINE REVIEW—February, 1929 ‘mastery of every phase of the ship- ping industry soon lead to his admis- sion to membership in the firm. Be- fore long, he had become the active head of the fleet operations of Pick- ands, Mather & Co. In 1904, he be- came president of the Pittsburgh Steamship Co., the freight-carrying subsidiary of the United States Steel Corp. on the Great Lakes. During his service in these capacities for 19 years he directed the operations of the largest fleets on the lakes and con- trolled the larger part of the entire freight movement. By the year 1924, expansion of the activities of Pickands, Mather & Co. had been so great that Mr. Coulby was obliged to resign his position as president of the Pittsburgh company in order to devote his full time to directing the fleet of Pickands, Mather & Co., known as the Inter- lake Steamship Co. After retirement from the Pittsburgh company he be- came chairman of the board of direc- tors of that company. During the war, Mr. Coulby ren- dered invaluable service to the coun- try and to Great Lakes shipping as well. Ten years prior to this time, union restrictions and hindrances had become unbearable to vessel owners and beginning in 1908, mainly on Mr. Coulby’s initiative, all lake vessels were operated on an open shop basis which contributed immeasureably to steady progress. The event of war opened the way for the unions to ap- peal to the government for shipping board control. Under Mr. Coulby’s able leadership as head of the com- mittee which appealed to Washington, a respite was granted by the govern- ment on the conditions that the lake vesselmen would meet the full de- mands of the iron ore, coal, and grain trades, considered the three essen- tials to winning the war. As a direct result of this commit- tee’s activities, and with no increase in capacity, the lake fleets moved more than 60,000,000 tons of iron ore as against the prewar record of only 49,000,000 tons. This centralized con- trol gave a record coal movement for 1918 and terminated the movement to bring lake shipping under govern- ment control. By his insistance on fair (Continued on Page 58) tis ACES neo A