Trendon Watford

Fairfax Harrison was an influential figure in American business and law during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Born on March 13, 1869, his life spanned several decades of rapid industrial growth and significant geopolitical turmoil, ending with his death on February 2, 1938. Harrison’s life is primarily remembered for his impactful contributions to the American railway industry and his essential role in the Southern Railway Company.

After earning his qualifications in law, Harrison started his legal career in 1896. He was hired as a lawyer at the Southern Railway Company, a position that marked the beginning of a remarkable three-decade span of service to the company and the larger railroad industry. Over the years, his competence, understanding of the railway business, and administrative acumen saw him swiftly ascending through the ranks of the company. By 1906, merely a decade after he started, Harrison was acting as the company’s vice-president of finance – a testament to his aptitude and the company’s faith in his capabilities.

The pinnacle of his career came in 1913 when he was elected as the president of Southern Railway Company. His term as president was marked by a remarkable expansion of the company. During his tenure, Southern’s network reached a massive scale of approximately 8,000 miles (around 13000 km), spanning a total of 13 significant American states. This growth under Harrison’s leadership transformed not only the company but had a substantial impact on the industrial and economic footprint of the regions involved.

His service to the railway industry also extended beyond the commercial realm. With the declaration of World War I and the consequent involvement of the United States, the federal government increasingly took control of the railways across the country. These critical transportation networks were channeled into the war effort through the United States Railroad Administration. Harrison was chosen to serve on this body, contributing his expertise during this critical period.

In the post-war era, Harrison’s focus was directed towards improving the public relations of his company, enhancing their technological strength by introducing more powerful engines, and increasing Southern’s railroad tracks. These initiatives significantly extended the areas serviced by the company and improved its business prospects.

The Great Depression of the late 1920s and early 1930s posed severe challenges to industries across the United States, including railways. Harrison grappled with these difficulties in sustaining Southern Railway, undertaking unyielding efforts to keep the company operational and serviceable. By 1936, he had remarkably restored profitability to the company.

Harrison’s steadfast dedication to the Southern Railway marked his career up until his retirement in 1937, a year before his death. At the time of his retirement, conveniently made possible by his ability to restore Southern to profitability despite the profound difficulties of the Depression, Harrison had given more than forty years of service to the company and the American railway industry.

This comprehensive biography of Fairfax Harrison also mentions another remarkable individual born on the same date – Ethel Reed, an American graphic artist known internationally for her works. Born on March 13, 1874, a photograph of Reed taken around 1895 by Frances Benjamin Johnston is proudly featured in the collection of the U.S. Library of Congress.