Edward Shearson

Edward Shearson (c. 1904), founder of Shearson, Hammill & Co. Edward Shearson (August 3, 1864 - October 30, 1950) was a banker, millionaire and founder of Shearson, Hammill & Co., which was among the largest brokerage and investment banking firms in the United States.

Biography Shearson was born in Galt, in Canada West on August 3, 1864 to William A. and Marion W. Shearson. At the age of 17, he left school to pursue work. Shearson traveled West and took up farming and stock-raising for a brief time.

Shearson, Hammill merged with Hayden, Stone & Co. in 1974 and the combined firm was named Shearson Hayden Stone, retaining Shearson's name, which was widely recognized as a major underwriter and brokerage.

The Shearson name was finally abandoned in 1994 following Primerica's acquisition of Shearson from American Express. Although initially Primerica had intended to brand its retail brokerage business as Smith Barney Shearson, the Shearson name was dropped.

Shearson married Flora Josephine Shea on November 14, 1903. The couple resided on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and kept a house in Greenwich, Connecticut.

He died on October 30, 1950.