Flagler: Oil Magnate to Florida Visionary

Born in Hopewell, New York on January 2, 1830, Henry Morrison Flagler was a successful industrialist who co-founded Standard Oil Company, the most triumphant monopoly of the nineteenth century. Henry’s father, Isaac Flagler, was a wandering Presbyterian minister who became a member of the racial equality movement in Ohio. After the separatioan of his parents, Henry, together with his mother, Elizabeth, and his younger sister decided to move to Rock Hill, New York. Flagler moved to Bellevue, Ohio at the age of 14 together with his half-brother, Dan Harkness.

At the age of 23, Henry Flagler married Harkness’ cousin, Mary Harkness.

They had two daughters and a son. Unfortunately, their second daughter died at a young age of 3. Both Flagler and Dan Harkness decided to open a joint distillery business. At the same time, Flagler continued to run another business- grain business. Moreover, Flagler moved to Saginaw, Michigan in 1863 to invest in t5he salt industry. Unfortunately, he lost about 100,000 US dollars after the salt industry’s fall in the post-Civil War.

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With his lost in Saginaw, Flagler decided to return to Bellevue. Luckily, he partnered his friend, Rockefeller and Samuel Andrews in their oil refinery business in Cleveland.

Flagler and Rockefeller became very close friends and innovative business partners. Leadership in Standard Oil, State of Florida and City of Miami As an effective and innovative leader, Flagler was a young man whom people liked. As an energetic businessman, he had no scruples to make him dither over the moral quality of a contract which was profitable.

As for Flagler, the only justification for his actions is success- making money in particular. As a partner and responsible businessman, he was not a secretive man and not a dreamer. However, he knew when to shut his mouth and the importance of financial dream.

In Florida, Flagler was known for transforming the state to a booming state in the US. He developed various land in the state and bought the existing railroads to transform it to Florida East Coast Railway. With the railway, Flagler’s innovative mind brought the state to prominence in terms of tourism. He developed Florida’s east coast cities into tourist destinations which resulted to more jobs. Aside from that, using a proposed rail rates discount to farm businesses, many products like orange and grapefruit were optimally produced in the state.

As an efficient entrepreneur, Flagler did not stop from developing the entire State of Florida. In 1893, he acquired Palm Beach and built the Royal Poinciana Resort Hotel. During that time, Royal Poinciana became the largest resort hotel in the world. With these tourism development and railroad system constructed, rich people began to recognize and at the same time travelled down the east coast to experience parties, golf, boating, swimming and fishing. He was also responsible for the creation of the city of West Palm Beach. Flagler continued to build his railroad south which resulted to the development of Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

As a generous leader, he donated money for the construction of many schools, hospitals, and churches. He was also responsible for the relief given to the farmers after winter. And as humble as he is, Flagler made most of his donations anonymously. Organizational Leadership Henry Morrison Flagler shows an example of a transactional leader who clearly creates a structure required to be followed by their subordinates. This only means that all his subordinates are all responsible for their assigned work given that the Flagler gave the proper instructions and requirements for the work.

Flagler also shows his leadership style through the use of rewards and punishments. As a businessman, he had the passion for money, and in a hard-supporting experience, had learned the principles in making it. He showed no tiring moments in expanding their oil business- he is quick to see an advantage and quick to obtain it. Flagler’s leadership skills were proven to be helpful in his success. Among these skills are: considering the needs and uniqueness of the group and knowing and understanding the resources of the company.