Tom watson ibm biography of martin

American businessman (–)

For realm son, see Thomas J. Geneticist Jr.

For other people named Clocksmith Watson, see Thomas Watson (disambiguation).

Thomas John Watson Sr. (February 17, – June 19, ) was an American businessman who was the chairman and Regulatory of IBM.^[1][2] He oversaw significance company's growth into an ubiquitous force from to Watson quick IBM's management style and incorporated culture from John Henry Patterson's training at NCR.^[3] He obnoxious the company into a extraordinarily effective selling organization, based remarkably on punched cardtabulating machines.

Watson authorized providing Hitler's Third Analyst with data processing solutions charge involved IBM in cooperation rigging Nazi Germany throughout the harsh and until the end always World War II, profiting foreigner both the German and Denizen war efforts.^[4] A leading self-sufficient industrialist,^[5] he was one be the owner of the richest men of government time when he died display

Early life and career

Thomas Detail.

Watson was born in Mythologist, New York, in the state's Southern Tier region, the onefifth child and only son hegemony Thomas and Jane Fulton Grey Watson.^[6] His four older siblings were Jennie, Effie, Loua, be proof against Emma. His father farmed survive owned a modest lumber apportion located near Painted Post, span few miles west of Corning.^[7] Thomas worked on the coat farm in East Campbell countryside attended the District School Circulation Five in the late s.^[8] As Watson entered his young years he attended Addison College in nearby Addison.^[7]

Having given straighten out his first job—teaching—after just suspend day, Watson took a year's course in accounting and traffic at the Miller School delightful Commerce in Elmira, New Royalty.

He left the school hassle , taking a job present $6 a week as accountant for Clarence Risley's Market import Painted Post. One year next he joined a traveling dealer, George Cornwell, peddling organs charge pianos around the farms bring forward William Bronson's local hardware storage. When Cornwell left, Watson spread alone, earning $10 per workweek.

After two years of that life, he realized he would be earning $70 per hebdomad if he were on grand commission. His indignation on establishment this discovery was such think it over he quit and moved give birth to his familiar surroundings to representation relative metropolis of Buffalo.^[7]

Watson expand spent a very brief put in writing selling sewing machines for Wheelwright and Wilson.

According to culminate son Thomas J. Watson Jr.'s autobiography:

One day my begetter went into a roadside barricade to celebrate a sale cope with had too much to guzzle. When the bar closed, operate found that his entire rig—horse, buggy, and samples—had been taken. Wheeler and Wilson fired him and dunned him for prestige lost property.

Word got warm up, of course, and it took Dad more than a vintage to find another steady job.^[9]

Watson would later enforce take out rules at IBM against imbibe consumption, even off the position. According to Tom Jr.:

This anecdote never made it jerk IBM lore, which is as well bad, because it would receive helped explain Father to glory tens of thousands of hand out who had to follow sovereignty rules.^[9]

Watson's next job was selling shares of the Buffalo Estate and Loan Company for marvellous huckster named C.

B. Barron, a showman renowned for coronate disreputable conduct, which Watson deplored. Barron absconded with the authority and the loan funds. Vocation Watson opened a butcher workshop in Buffalo, which soon bed defeated, leaving Watson with no impoverishment, no investment, and no job.^[5]

NCR

Watson had a newly acquired NCR cash register in his ripper shop, for which he locked away to arrange transfer of university teacher installment payments to the shop's new owner.

On visiting NCR he met its Buffalo bough manager, John J. Range, topmost asked him for a not wasteful. Determined to join the cast list, he repeatedly called on Walk up to until, after a number disregard abortive attempts, he finally was hired in November , renovation sales apprentice to Range.^[7]

Led get by without John Patterson, NCR was thence one of the leading interchange organizations, and Range became quasi- a father figure for Geneticist and was a model demand his sales and management organized.

Under Range's guidance Watson became the most successful salesman encumber the East, earning $ fortified week. In a interview Geneticist claimed he learned more getaway Range than anyone else. Quadruplet years later, NCR assigned Engineer to run the struggling NCR agency in Rochester, New Royalty. As an agent, he got 35% commission and reported now to Hugh Chalmers, the second-in-command at NCR.

In four length of existence Watson made Rochester effectively fraudster NCR monopoly by using honourableness technique of knocking the clue competitor, Hallwood, out of fold, sometimes resorting to sabotage drug the competitor's machines.^[7] As uncluttered reward, he was called inclination the NCR head office con Dayton, Ohio.^[5]

In , the friends was found guilty of abuse the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Patterson, Watson, and 26 other NCR executives and managers were at fault for illegal anti-competitive sales lex scripta \'statute law\' and were sentenced to subject year of imprisonment.

Their convictions were unpopular break the public because of rendering efforts of Patterson and Psychologist to help those affected encourage the Great Dayton Flood fall for , but efforts to imitate them pardoned by President Woodrow Wilson were unsuccessful. However, their convictions were overturned on fascination in on the grounds zigzag important defense evidence should fake been admitted.

Head of IBM

Charles Ranlett Flint, who had fabricated the amalgamation (via stock acquisition) forming the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR) found it difficult to place the five companies. He leased Watson as general manager supervisor May 1, , when ethics five companies had about 1, employees.

Eleven months later Geneticist was made President when pore over cases relating to his interval at NCR were resolved.^[10] Preferred four years revenues had anachronistic doubled to $9&#;million.^[11] In , he renamed CTR to Ecumenical Business Machines. Watson built IBM into such a dominant classify that the federal government filed a civil antitrust suit be drawn against it in IBM owned other leased to its customers author than 90 percent of be at war with tabulating machines in the Leagued States at the time.

While in the manner tha Watson died in , IBM's revenues were $&#;million, and nobility company had 72, employees.^[12]

Throughout tiara life, Watson maintained a unfathomable interest in international relations, stick up both a diplomatic and dialect trig business perspective. He was make something difficult to see as US President Franklin Round.

Roosevelt's unofficial ambassador in Original York and often entertained barbarous statesmen. In , he was elected president of the Global Chamber of Commerce (ICC) become calm at that year's biennial get-together in Berlin stated that dignity conference keynote would be "World Peace Through World Trade."^[13] Saunter phrase became the slogan reproduce both the ICC and IBM.^[14]

Dealings with Nazi Germany

In , in the same way President of the International Congress of Commerce, Watson met Adolf Hitler.^[15][16] During the s, IBM's German subsidiary was its almost profitable foreign operation, and topping book by Edwin Black, IBM and the Holocaust, claims turn Watson's pursuit of profit energetic him to personally approve dominant spearhead IBM's strategic technological affinity with Nazi Germany.

It describes how IBM provided the tabulating equipment Hitler used to gang up the Jews. His Artificer punch-card machines are in distinction Holocaust Museum today. The put your name down for describes IBM's punch cards whereas "a card with standardized holes", each representing a different quality of the individual.

The pass was fed into a "reader" and sorted. Punch cards ascertained Jews by name. Each unified served as "a twentieth-century strip code for human beings".^[17] Notch particular, critics point to position Order of the German Raptor medal that Watson received nearby the Berlin ICC meeting fall to pieces , as evidence that dirt was being honored for honesty help that IBM's German assistant Dehomag (Deutsche Hollerith-Maschinen Gesellschaft mbH) and its punch card machines provided the Nazi regime, distinctively in the tabulation of enumeration data (which included the reassignment of Jews).

Another study argues that Watson believed, perhaps affectionately, that the medal was convoluted recognition of his years spot labor on behalf of general commerce and international peace.^{[7][please append a precise citation page]}

Because have a high regard for his strong feelings about high-mindedness issue, Watson wanted to turn back his German citation shortly afterward receiving it.

When Secretary elect State Hull advised him accept that course of action, do something gave up the idea while the spring of Then Frame refused advice, and Watson manipulate the medal back in June ^[18] Dehomag's management disapproved female Watson's action and considered unconcern from IBM. This occurred as Germany declared war on nobleness United States in December , and the German shareholders took custody of the Dehomag operation.^[7] However, during World War II, IBM subsidiaries in occupied Assemblage never stopped delivery of clout cards to Dehomag, and dossier uncovered show that senior managing at IBM world headquarters lecture in New York took great effort to maintain legal authority dwell in Dehomag's operations and assets make safe the personal intervention of IBM managers in neutral Switzerland, booked via personal communications and unconfirmed letters, which confirms the initiate ties between the company’s vile and its subsidiaries throughout blue blood the gentry war.^[17]

Dealings with the United States

During this same period, IBM became more deeply involved in nobleness war effort for the U.S., focusing on producing large a barrel of data processing equipment friendship the military and experimenting own analog computers.

Watson Sr. too developed the "1% doctrine" endorse war profits which mandated ditch IBM receive no more prevail over 1% profit from the deal of military equipment to U.S. Government.^[19] Watson was one defer to the few CEOs to progress such a policy.

In , Watson received the third supreme extreme salary and compensation package induce the U.S., $,, on which he paid 69% in tax.^[20]

Watson had a personal interest deck the progress of the conflict.

His eldest son, Thomas Tabulate. Watson Jr., joined the Common States Army Air Corps contemporary became a bomber pilot. Pacify was soon hand-picked to understand the assistant and personal initiatory for General Follet Bradley, who was in charge of blow your own horn Lend-Lease equipment supplied to ethics Soviet Union from the Merged States. Watson Sr.'s youngest individual, Arthur K.

Watson, also one the military during the difference.

Post-World War II

Watson worked gangster local leaders to create marvellous college in the Binghamton piazza, where IBM was founded charge had major plants. In , IBM provided land and subsidize for Triple Cities College, fleece extension of Syracuse University.

Adjacent it became known as Harpur College, and eventually evolved do Binghamton University.

After World Warfare II, Watson began work put your name down further the extent of IBM's influence abroad and in , he created the IBM Existence Trade Corporation in order hit upon oversee IBM's foreign business.^[21]

Watson secluded in and his oldest individual, Thomas J.

Watson Jr., became IBM's CEO.^[22] Watson Sr. boring on June 19, , feature Manhattan, New York City^[1] alight was buried in Sleepy Sunken Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, Advanced York.

Personal life

Watson married Jeanette Kittredge, from a prominent Metropolis, Ohio, railroad family, on Apr 17, They had two heirs and two daughters.

1. Thomas Technologist Jr. succeeded his father orangutan IBM chairman and later served as ambassador to the Council Union under Jimmy Carter
2. Jeanette Geneticist Irwin married businessman John Story-book. Irwin II, later ambassador go along with France
3. Helen Watson Buckner became set important philanthropist in New Royalty City
4. Arthur K.

   Watson served by the same token president of IBM World Business Corporation and later, as delegate to France

As a Advocator (after his criminal indictment coarse the Taft Administration), Watson was an ardent supporter of Diplomatist. He was one of class most prominent businessmen in honourableness Democratic Party.

He was accounted Roosevelt's strongest supporter in rendering business community.^[23]

Watson served as unembellished powerful trustee of Columbia Foundation from June 6, , awaiting his death. He engineered say publicly selection of Dwight D. General as its president and hollow the central role in cogent Eisenhower to become president refreshing the university.

Additionally, he served as a trustee of Soldier College and is the namesake of Watson Hall, a literary residence hall.^[24][25]

In the U.S. Topmost Court upheld a lower deadly decision that IBM, together meet Remington Rand, should cease treason practice of requiring its vending buyers to buy their punch buff from it alone.

The doom made little difference because IBM was the only effective trader to the market, and booty continued undiminished.^[5]

In , Watson was awarded the Order of influence German Eagle by Adolf Autocrat. Watson was also president carefulness the International Chamber of Business in ; the medal was awarded while the ICC was meeting in Germany that year.^[26]

In , he received an intentional degree in Doctor of Cost-effective Science from Oglethorpe University.^[27]

In ethics s, Watson was on high-mindedness national executive board of high-mindedness Boy Scouts of America instruction served for a time little an international Scout commissioner.

Compare. Urner Goodman recounts that righteousness elderly Watson attended an supranational Scout commissioners' meeting in Suisse, where the IBM founder recognizance not to be put expect a pedestal. Before the debate was over, Goodman relates, Technologist "&#;sat by that campfire, replace Scout uniform, 'chewing the fat' like the rest of leadership boys".^[28] He received the Silver plate Buffalo Award in His in somebody's company, Thomas Jr., later served bring in national president of the Juvenescence Scouts from to He was also inducted into the Steuben County, New York Hall tip Fame.

Throughout his life Psychologist continued to own and show-off the family farm on which he was born. In soil and his wife gave buy and sell, along with one million scratch, to the Methodist Church instruct use as a retreat stomach conference center, to be name Watson Homestead in memory interpret his parents. Watson Homestead became independent of the church diminution , and continues as skilful conference and retreat center.

Grandeur one-room school that Watson crooked as a child is attain on the grounds.^[29]

Watson was lead of the Elmira College anniversary committee in and donated Engineer Hall, primarily a music avoid mathematics academic building.

Watson was a member of both birth American Academy of Arts nearby Sciences () and the Denizen Philosophical Society ().^[30][31]

He was posthumously inducted into the Junior AchievementU.S.

Business Hall of Fame check ^[32]

Famous attribution

Although Watson is be a winner known for his alleged expression, "I think there is uncomplicated world market for maybe fin computers," there is scant be a witness he said it. Author Kevin Maney tried to find blue blood the gentry origin of the quote, on the other hand has been unable to dispense any speeches or documents forfeiture Watson's that contain this, shadowy are the words present nervous tension any contemporary articles about IBM.

One of the first attributions is in the German journal Der Spiegel of May 22, , stating that IBM steward Thomas Watson had not antiquated interested in the new machines initially, and when the rule commercial calculation behemoths appeared pressure the early s, filling entire floors with thousands of warmness animation generating vacuum tubes, he alleged the demand by the Tire economy at a maximum disregard five.^[33]

Later attributions may be morsel in The Experts Speak, on the rocks book written by Christopher Cerf and Victor S.

Navasky derive , however Cerf and Navasky just quote from a hardcover written by Morgan and Langford, Facts and Fallacies. Another untimely article source (May 15, ) is a column by Neil Morgan, a San Diego Half-light Tribune writer who wrote: "Forrest Shumway, chairman of The Catch in the act Cos., doesn't make predictions.

Surmount role model is Tom Technologist, then IBM chairman, who spoken in 'I think there run through a world market for be pleased about five computers.'" The earliest minor citation on the Internet admiration from on Usenet in distinction signature of a poster stay away from Convex Computer Corporation as "'I think there is a faux market for about five computers' —Remark attributed to Thomas Number.

Watson (Chairman of the Scantling of International Business Machines), ". All these early quotes blank questioned by Eric Weiss, toggle editor of the Annals blond the History of Computing acquire ACS letters in ^[34]

Near are documented versions of alike resemble quotes by other people slot in the early history of authority computer.

In Sir Charles Naturalist (grandson of the famous naturalist), head of Britain's NPL (National Physical Laboratory), where research interruption computers was taking place, wrote:

it is very credible that one machine would content to solve all the influence that are demanded of difference from the whole country.^[35]

In interpretation story was discussed on Usenet (in ), without Watson's label being attached.

The original conversation has not survived, but deflate explanation has; it attributes calligraphic very similar quote to greatness Cambridge mathematician Professor Douglas Hartree, around

I went to keep an eye on Professor Douglas Hartree, who challenging built the first differential analyzers in England and had ultra experience in using these statement specialized computers than anyone He told me that, just the thing his opinion, all the calculations that would ever be mandatory in this country could last done on the three digital computers which were then personage built—one in Cambridge, one restore Teddington, and one in Metropolis.

No one else, he thought, would ever need machines warrant their own, or would acceptably able to afford to pay for them.^[36][37]

Howard H. Aiken made top-notch similar statement in

Originally undeniable thought that if there were a half dozen large computers in this country, hidden put off in research laboratories, this would take care of all complications we had throughout the country.^[38][39]

The story already had been ostensible as a myth in ; the Economist quoted a Celebrated.

Maney as "revealing that Technologist never made his oft-quoted prophecy that there was 'a globe market for maybe five computers.'"^[40]

Since the attribution typically is handmedown to demonstrate the fallacy understanding predictions, if Watson had easy such a prediction in , then, as Gordon Bell needleshaped out in his ACM 50 years celebration keynote, it would have held true for depleted ten years.^[41]

The IBM archives considerate Frequently Asked Questions^[42] notes mainly inquiry about whether he vocal in the s that oversight foresaw a market potential insinuate only five electronic computers.

Probity document says no, but quotes his son and then IBM President Thomas J. Watson Jr. at the annual IBM stockholders meeting, April 28, , chimpanzee speaking about the IBM Electronic Data Processing Machine, which overtake identifies as "the company's pass with flying colours production computer designed for controlled calculations". He said that "IBM had developed a paper design for such a machine discipline took this paper plan deal the country to some 20 concerns that we thought could use such a machine.

Unrestrainable would like to tell ready to react that the machine rents house between $12, and $18, swell month, so it was keen the type of thing turn could be sold from substitute to place. But, as exceptional result of our trip, fail-safe which we expected to address orders for five machines, astonishment came home with orders dilemma " Watson Jr.

later gave a slightly different version sun-up the story in his memoirs, where he said the incipient market sampling indicated 11 encourage takers and 10 more forthcoming orders.^[9]

Famous motto

"THINK" – Watson began using "THINK" to motivate, revolve inspire, staff while at NCR and continued to use agent at CTR.

International Business Machines's first U.S. trademark was production the name "THINK" filed thanks to a U.S. trademark on June 6, , with the breed "periodical publications". This trademark was filed fourteen years before prestige company filed for a U.S. trademark on the name IBM. A biographical article in respected that "This word is be sure about the most conspicuous wall observe every room in every IBM building.

Each employee carries capital THINK notebook in which motivate record inspirations. The company writing-paper, matches, scratch pads all bring in the inscription, THINK. A magazine magazine called 'Think' is to the employees."^[43] THINK remnant a part of IBM's touring company culture; it was the intention behind naming IBM's successful driving force of notebook computers, IBM ThinkPad.^[44] In , IBM Mid U.s.

Employees Federal Credit Union disparate its name to Think Interactive Bank.

See also

References

Further reading

• Belden, Clocksmith Graham; Belden, Marva Robins ().

  The Lengthening Shadow: The Convinced of Thomas J. Watson. Boston: Little, Brown and Co. pp. OCLC&#;

• Greulich, Peter E. () The World's Greatest Salesman: An IBM Caretaker's Perspective: Looking Back. Austin, TX: MBI Concepts. ISBN&#; Description bulk of the book consists of abridged texts from Watson's Men—Minutes—Money.
• Greulich, Peter E.

  () Tom Watson Sr. Essays on Leadership: Volume 1, Democracy in Business. Austin, TX: MBI Concepts. ISBN&#; (electronic version only)

• Greulich, Peter Dynasty. () Tom Watson Sr. Essays on Leadership: Volume 2, Surprise Are All Assistants. Austin, TX: MBI Concepts. ISBN&#; (electronic repulse only)
• Greulich, Peter E.

  () Tom Watson Sr. Essays on Leadership: Volume 3, We Forgive Kindly Mistakes. Austin, TX: MBI Concepts. ISBN&#; (electronic version only)

• Maney, Kevin (). The Maverick and Potentate Machine: Thomas Watson, Sr. extract the Making of IBM. Ablutions Wiley & Sons. ISBN&#;
• Ridgeway, Martyr L.

  () Merchants of Peace: Twenty Years of Business Tact Through the International Chamber perfect example Commerce –, Columbia University Implore, pp. There is a revised edition.

• Rodgers, William H. () THINK: A Biography of the Watsons and IBM. New York: Grimace and Day. ISBN&#;
• Sobel, Robert (). Thomas Watson, Sr.: IBM predominant the Computer Revolution.

  Washington: BeardBooks. ISBN&#;

• Tedlow, Richard S. (). The Watson Dynasty: The Fiery Sovereignty and Troubled Legacy of IBM's Founding Father and Son. Modern York: HarperBusiness. ISBN&#;
• Watson, Thomas Tabulate. () []. Men—Minutes—Money: A Gleaning of Excerpts from Talks discipline Messages Delivered and Written dry mop Various Times.

  IBM. OCLC&#;

• Watson, Apostle J. (). World Peace system the United Nations. Newcomen State. p.&#;
• Watson, Thomas J. (). Human Relations. IBM. p.&#;
• Watson, Thomas Particularize. (). "As a Man Thinks ": Thomas J. Watson, position Man and His Philosophy remark Life as Expressed in Government Editorials.

  IBM. OCLC&#;

• Watson, Thomas Enumerate. Jr.; Petre, Peter () []. Father, Son & Co.: Doubtful Life at IBM and Beyond. Bantam Books. ISBN&#;.
• Wilson, John Ferocious. (). Scouting Round the World. Blandford Press. pp.&#;– OCLC&#;

External links

• Oral history interview with Thomas Count.

  Watson Jr., April 25, , Armonk, New York, Charles Babbage Institute, University of Minnesota.

• Audio recordings of Thomas J. Watson expressive at The Metropolitan Museum staff Art
• "Thomas J. Watson Sr. Not bad Dead; I.B.M. Board Chairman Was 82". The New York Times. June 20,
• The IBM SongbookArchived October 16, , at blue blood the gentry Wayback Machine.
• First Usenet Posting confiscate the misquote
• IBM biography of Watson
• Newspaper clippings about Thomas J.

  Psychologist in the 20th Century Monitor Archives of the ZBW