H. Carl Buchan

Carl Buchan, or H. Carl Buchan Jr., was an American World War II veteran. He is noted as one of the co-founders of the American home improvement and retail company, Lowe's. Although his father-in-law, Lucius Lowe, started Lowe's in 1921 as a small hardware store, Buchan is credited for significantly expanding it when he became the owner of the business in 1952.

Biography Buchan was born on November 27, 1916, in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

He went to State College (North Carolina State University) to study journalism. After the outbreak of World War II, he enlisted in the military and completed his training at the Officer's Training School in Camp Lee, Virginia.

After Lowe's death, his daughter Ruth inherited his hardware store, which was then called Lowe's North Wilkesboro Hardware. This gentleman's agreement is said to have sealed Jim and Buchan's partnership. Among the innovations he introduced was the Lowe's Companies Profit Sharing Plan and Trust, which allowed employees partial ownership of the company. By 1960, the company was operating 13 stores that sold hardware, home appliances, and lumber at a discount.