John G. Shedd (1850-1926) – Businessman & Philanthropist
In 1871, John Shedd arrived in Chicago and began working as a stock clerk for Marshall Field & Company. By 1901, he had worked his way up to vice president and took over as president upon Field’s death in 1906. Under Shedd’s presidency, Marshall Field became the largest wholesale and dry goods company in the world. Shedd was also a civic leader and founding member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, which continues to play an active role in the city’s efforts to maintain itself as a world-class metropolis. As one of Chicago’s major philanthropists, Shedd contributed extensively to Chicago charities, universities, and museums, and in the early 1920s, he provided $3 million to build Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, as a complement to The Field Museum and The Art Institute of Chicago. In 1920, Shedd provided the funds for the construction of the Shedd-Porter Memorial Library in Alstead, New Hampshire.
We honor John G. Shedd because his philanthropic work makes him a Legacy Champ. If you want to be a Legacy Champ in your own special way, then contact The Mendel Law Firm, L.P. for a free initial consultation on estate planning, trust planning, and/or probate issues.
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