Benno C. Schmidt, Sr.

Benno Schmidt Sr., (left) at the White House in 1973 with (left to right) President Richard Nixon, Dr. R. L. Clark (M. D. Anderson Cancer Center), and Dr. Robert A. Good. Benno Charles Schmidt Sr. (January 10, 1913 – October 21, 1999) was an American lawyer and venture capitalist who was active in New York City civic affairs and played an important role in the initiation of the war on cancer.

Life and career Born in Abilene, Texas, Schmidt grew up in that city in a household that was not financially well-off, but placed an emphasis on education. His father died when he was 12, so his mother's job as a secretary supported the family.

In late 1945, Jock Whitney invited him to join a new business he wanted to start to finance new companies seeking to capitalize on newly identified markets and social needs. He became managing partner in 1960 and remained in that position until 1992. The term was a shortening of the word "adventure".

Schmidt was the chairman of Vertex Pharmaceuticals board and one of its largest early investors.

Schmidt had five sons, including Benno C. Schmidt Jr., who was President of Yale University and Dean of Columbia Law School.

Schmidt died from heart failure in October 1999 at the age of 86.