Hiram Sibley

Hiram Sibley (February 6, 1807 – July 12, 1888) was an American industrialist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who was a pioneer of the telegraph in the United States.

Early life Sibley was born in North Adams, Massachusetts, on February 6, 1807, and later resided in Rochester, New York. He was the second son of Benjamin Sibley (1768–1829) and Zilpha (née Davis) Sibley (1771–1824).

Career Too poor to receive more than a country education, Sibley started training as a shoemaker's apprentice, but, unhappy with the career, went to Lima, New York, at age 17 to work in a cotton factory. The following year he became a wool carder in a shop where future president Millard Fillmore then worked. Ten years later, the business was successful enough for him to sell and afford to move to Rochester, where he was elected Sheriff of Monroe County from 1844 to 1846. Sibley later served as first president of Western Union Telegraph Company. Together, they were the parents of:

After a five-day illness, Sibley died on July 12, 1888, and was interred at Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester. At his death, his wealth was estimated between $8,000,000 and $10,000,000. Completed in 1877, it was the second building of the Prince Street campus, and later became part of the Eastman School of Music. The original Sibley Library building was sold in 1956 and torn down in 1968.

In 1876 Sibley founded and endowed the Sibley College of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanic Arts, as well as the building which housed it, Sibley Hall, at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

The Hiram Sibley Building was built in 1925 at the corner of East Avenue and Alexander Street in Rochester, New York. It was named in his honor by his son Hiram Watson Sibley, and designed by Shepley, Bulfinch and Abbott of Boston.