Edward Julius Berwind

Edward Julius Berwind (June 17, 1848 – August 18, 1936) was an American coal baron who co-founded the Berwind-White Coal Mining Company with his brother Charles Frederick Berwind and Allison White. Berwind served as the second president of the company from 1890 to 1930. He was considered the largest single owner of coal properties in the United States and his agreements to supply coal to the United States Navy, Pennsylvania Railroad, and international shipping lines were considered a monopoly. He owned six coal companies and the Berwind National Bank. He served as a director for approximately 50 companies including banks, coal, railway, and international shipping companies.

His summer home, The Elms, in Newport, Rhode Island, was designed by architect Horace Trumbauer and was filled with Berwind's art collection.

Early life Berwind was born on June 17, 1848, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was one of five sons born to German immigrants Augusta (née Guldenferring) Berwind and John Berwind. Among his siblings was brother Charles Frederick Berwind, the first president of Berwind-White, and sister Julia A. Berwind, a social welfare activist who in later life lived with Edward. As an ensign, met the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, who became a lifelong friend of Berwind.

He was placed on the Retired List in May 1875.

Career In January 1886, Berwind co-founded the Berwind-White Coal Mining Company with his older brother, Charles Frederick Berwind, and Allison White. The company opened its first mine in Houtzdale, Pennsylvania, and by 1897, Berwind-White opened the first of 13 coal mines in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Berwind negotiated agreements with international shipping lines and the Pennsylvania Railroad to purchase coal from Berwind-White. The company purchased large amounts of land in Somerset County and partnered with Babcock Lumber Company to harvest timber on the land while Berwind-White maintained the mineral rights.

Berwind worked closely with J. P. Morgan in the consolidation, reorganization, integration, and expansion of his coal mining operations.

He served as president of six coal companies and director at four others including as chairman of the board of Colorado Fuel and Iron. and Berwind National Bank. He was a director in the Atlantic, Gulf & West Indies Steamship Lines, the Clyde Steamship Company, and the International Mercantile Marine Company. He was a shareholder in the conglomerate lead by J. P. Morgan to purchase the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company for U.S. Steel. summer home in Newport, Rhode Island, named The Elms. It was designed by architect Horace Trumbauer and was modeled after the French Château d'Asnières The gardens contained sculptures including some from the château of Madame de Pompadour in France.

In 1886, Berwind was married to Sarah Vesta Herminie Torrey in Leghorn, Italy, where her father was U.S. consular agent. and she died in 1922. She left him no cash inheritance since "he did not need it" but did leave Berwind her jewels worth over $376,000. Her brother, Charles Franklin Torrey, inherited the remainder of her estate from her parents. After the death of his wife, Berwind's sister served as hostess for him in New York and Newport. His net worth was valued at over $34 million. His sister Julia and nephew, Charles E. Dunlap, were his principal beneficiaries.

Legacy The mining towns of Berwind, Colorado, were named after him. The borough of Windber, Pennsylvania, was named based on the recommendation of Berwind to transpose the two syllables of his last name.

The Edward J. Berwind House in Manhattan was inherited by his sister and sold in 1945 to the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences. In 1967, it was sold again for use as the offices of the New York Heart Association.