Auto industry / Visual art / Business & brands
Edsel Ford
1893–1943 · president of Ford Motor Company, art patron
Henry Ford's only son led Ford from 1919 to 1943, brought style to its cars and paid for Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry murals.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan- Died
Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan
aged 49- Birth name
- Edsel Bryant Ford
- Detroit years
- 1893–1943
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Edsel was born in Detroit, grew up in the city and attended the Detroit University School before joining his father's company instead of college. He became president of Ford in 1919 at 25, though Henry kept overruling him. Edsel pushed for design: he guided the Lincoln brand after Ford bought it in 1922, helped shape the 1927 Model A, created Mercury and championed the Lincoln-Zephyr and the first Lincoln Continental. With his wife Eleanor he lived in Indian Village and then at Gaukler Point, the Albert Kahn–designed estate in Grosse Pointe Shores. As president of the Detroit Arts Commission he funded Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry murals at the Detroit Institute of Arts in 1932–33 and stood by them when critics demanded their removal. He died of stomach cancer at home in 1943, aged 49, and is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery. Interstate 94 through Detroit is the Edsel Ford Freeway.
Highlights
- President of Ford Motor Company, 1919–1943
- Founded the Mercury division (1938); backed the Lincoln-Zephyr and Lincoln Continental
- Funded Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry murals at the DIA, 1932–33
- I-94 in metro Detroit is named the Edsel Ford Freeway
- His Grosse Pointe Shores estate is now a public museum
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 5
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Lived here · 1929–1943
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House
The Albert Kahn–designed estate at Gaukler Point where the family lived and Edsel died; now a museum with gardens by Jens Jensen.
Related place · 1932–1943
Concert of Colors
Edsel paid for Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry fresco cycle, painted here in 1932–33 and now a National Historic Landmark.
Lived here · after 1916
Edsel and Eleanor Ford's Indian Village home
Status being checked
The couple's first home after their 1916 marriage, in the Indian Village historic district; a private residence.
Buried here · 1943
Woodlawn Cemetery
Edsel Ford's grave is in this historic cemetery on Woodward Avenue.
Memorial
Edsel Ford Freeway (I-94)
Interstate 94 through metro Detroit carries his name.