Jonathan Bryan

Jonathan Bryan (December 6, 1874 – January 15, 1933) was an American capitalist, broker, and businessman. Bryan was the president of the Richmond-Ashland Railway Company and president of Bryan, Kemp & Co. brokerage firm. He also worked for the Richmond Locomotive Works. He was the son of newspaperman Joseph Bryan and brother of John Stewart Bryan.

Personal life Bryan was born on December 6, 1874, at Brook Hill, his maternal grandparent's home in Henrico County, Virginia. He was the third son of Isobel Lamond (née Stewart) and Joseph Bryan, publisher of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. While there, he was captain of the baseball and football teams. In late 1898, Bryan was tasked with going to Europe to deliver seventeen locomotives for the Finland State Railway. When that job was completed in April 1899, he remained in Europe to receive delivery of twenty engines being built for the Swedish government. He also took the time to learn the Finnish language. Noting the sales he made with both the Finnish and Swedish governments, The Richmond Times said his trip "exceeded expectations".

Bryan returned to Europe in May 1900, where he oversaw Richmond Locomotive Works' exhibit at the 1900 Paris Expedition. In addition to the world's fair, Bryan made calls to clients in Finland, France, Spain, and Sweden. In March 1902, he sold the Poplar Hill property to the Richmond Locomotive Works, at cost. Bryan was connected to the firm until he was sold to the American Locomotive Company in 1901. The renamed Richmond-Ashland Railway Company, which was chartered in Virginia on April 15, 1919, and opened on July 5, 1919. Bryan's brother, J. St. George Bryan, was an associate partner. At that time, Bryan's seat on the New York Stock Exchange was transferred to Kemp.

Bryan was the wealthiest member of his family, which was prominent in Virginia.

Personal life On June 1, 1911, Bryan married Winifred "Duffy" Bryan Hayden of St. Louis, Missouri in New York City. The two met shipboard on a trip to Europe. He was member of the Richmond Association of Alumni of the University of Virginia.

Bryan died at his home from a heart attack on January 15, 1933, at the age of 59. He was buried in the Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.