Alexander Legge

Alexander Legge (January 13, 1866 – December 3, 1933) was a prominent American business executive, serving as president of International Harvester from 1922 to 1933. He performed public service during World War I on the War Industries Board and at the Versailles Peace Conference, and again during the Great Depression on the Federal Farm Board.

Early life Legge was born January 13, 1866, in Dane County, Wisconsin,

Career with International Harvester

In 1891, Legge went to work as a collector for the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company branch office in Omaha, Nebraska.

Other ventures

In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson selected Legge as vice chairman of the War Industries Board. When the war ended, he was part of the mission developing the economic section of the Treaty of Versailles. In 1923 Legge was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.

Before Legge's death, he and his friend Frank Lowden, the former Illinois governor, established the Farm Foundation. Part of Legge's estate was used to fund and launch this foundation in 1933.

Legge died on December 3, 1933, at his home in Hinsdale, Illinois. Services were held at the Fourth Presbyterian Church at 880 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, on December 6, 1933. His ashes were taken to the Katherine Legge Memorial to be interred with his wife's ashes.