| Francis Harrington Glidden | |
| Birth Date: | 24 May 1832 |
| Birth Place: | New Castle, Maine |
| Death Place: | Cleveland, Ohio |
| Nationality: | American |
| Known For: | founding the Glidden Company |
| Occupation: | businessman |
Francis Harrington Glidden (1832–1922) was an American businessman best known for founding the company now known as the Glidden Company, which became a subsidiary of Akzo Nobel NV[1] before that company sold the Glidden business to PPG Industries, Inc. in 2012.[2]
Glidden was born on May 24, 1832, in New Castle, Maine, and attended Lincoln Academy.[3] After marrying Winifred Kavanaugh Waters in 1854,[3] he had a career as a seaman and dry-goods merchant.[3] [4] In 1866, he entered the varnish business for the first time, working as a varnish salesman for William Tilden and Nehphena, in New York City.[3] He remained with that company through 1875.[3]
In 1868, Glidden moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1868.[4] In 1875, after leaving Tilden, he started his own varnish manufacturing company, named The Glidden-Brackett Company; renamed later to the Glidden & Joy Company,[4] and in 1890 incorporated as The Glidden Varnish Company.[4]
Glidden served as President and Director of the company;[4] retiring in 1917 at age 85.[5] In addition to his work with the company, Glidden served as director of Central National Bank of Cleveland.[4]
Glidden resided in the Clifton Park area of Lakewood, Ohio, in a home he built in 1910 that he named "Inglewood."[6] He died September 25, 1922, in Cleveland, and is buried in Lakeview Cemetery.[6]