Herbert Hoover-his life before Presidency

 

Herbert Hoover

Young Herbert Hoover, during his time

working in the mines of Perth, Western Australia, 1898

 

This term, my goal for this blog is to chronicle people who do not get the recognition they deserve for their contributions to economic history. Last week, I discussed George Westinghouse's many contributions to the Second Industrial Revolution. This week, I took Dr. Edwards' suggestion and researched Herbert Hoover. Hoover is typically known for his one-term presidency during one of the country's most transitional periods: the Depression. He is also known for being defeated in his bid for a second term by one of history's greatest minds: Franklin D. Roosevelt. Hoover's term as president is considered one of the worst in United States history. He was so unpopular that his defeat by Roosevelt marked the first time in eighty years that a Democrat had won the election. This caused the first party realignment in the country since the 1860s.

In this blog post, however, President Hoover's presidency is not the topic of discussion. Hoover's pre-presidential adventures will be the focus of this blog post. The subject of this blog post deals with Hoover's early years before he began president in 1939. Born in Iowa in 1874, Hoover was raised in a Quaker household. By 1884 both of his parents had passed away, and he was put in the care of his maternal uncle, who ensured he had a proper education, though he was not a particularly stellar student. Hoover was described as a shy child but possessed charisma and a steady internal compass, which would allow him to be a natural leader.

Despite his lack of love for learning, Hoover was a student at Stanford University during its first year of operation and studied geology. He also became popular amongst the students and was elected student treasurer of his class.

After graduation, Hoover became a mining engineer who traveled the world, revolutionizing the mining industry. His first few jobs in mining were in Sierra Nevada Mountains in the western United States. In late 1890, Hoover was hired by the London gold mining company Bewick, Moreing, & Co. and sent to Australia to manage the company's mines.

 

Herbert Hoover in Australia, ca. 1900

(Image source: Hoover Library)

     He traveled extensively across Western Australia and later described the conditions as excessively harsh. During his time there, he helped cut costs, improved mining efficiency, designed the mining management housing, designed office buildings, and helped renovate the nearby mining town where many workers lived. Like many business owners during this period, he was known as a harsh boss who hired cheap immigrant laborers, increasing profits.

After six months in Australia, he was sent by the company to China, where he attempted to use his skills to open gold mines there, but the Chinese government was not as open as the Australians were. In addition, China was not as industrialized as was necessary for good mining to take place.

During his time in China, Hoover was made a partner in Bewick. Unfortunately for Hoover, the British government would investigate the company for labor practices in Australia, and his time with Bewick officially ended in 1908 when he sold his remaining shares of the company.  His work in mining was not over. Hoover co-founded the Zinc Corporation, and his companies mined for zinc in New South Wales, Australia.

Between 1908 and the start of World War I, Hoover worked as a mining consultant and was sent worldwide to revive mining companies with operating problems. His work gained him international attention, and he was highly sought after.

With the onset of World War I, Hoover would be involved in the war in various ways. His first contribution to the war was the creation of a committee dedicated to finding passage for Americans caught in Europe when the war began.

Next, he worked with the United Kingdom and Belgium to bring food relief to Belgians in the German-occupied territory. Food was delivered and distributed to the territories. All empty food sacks were collected and sent back to England, where they were made into clothes for those affected by the war.

When Germany declared war on the United States in 1917, he was invited by President Woodrow Wilson to work for the United States government as the head of the Food Administration. His appointment aimed to decrease American food consumption for the war effort. 

Wartime signs issued by the United States Food Administration during World War I.

            After the war, Hoover continued focusing on helping those affected by the war. The United States Food Administration became the American Relief Administration. The ARA was responsible for relief efforts in Central and Eastern Europe. The ARA also brought relief aid to Russia during the 1921 famine in the years after the revolution.

            Hoover was also involved in the Paris Peace Conference as an aide to President Wilson. Like Wilson, Hoover championed the creation of the League of Nations and to fix the issues that caused the start of the war in the first place: militarism, secret alliances, imperialism, and nationalism. Harsh punishments, he observed, would do nothing but breed resentment.

            By 1920, Hoover had become a well-known and popular figure in the United States. Hoover was a hard-working man who helped many around the world. His years as president, during a difficult time in American history, overshadow his earlier accomplishments. 

Reference

https://hoover.archives.gov/hoovers/president-herbert-hoover

Hoover, Herbert. The Memoirs of Herbert Hoover, New York: Macmillan, 1952.

Mouat, Jeremy and Ian Phimister. "The Engineering of Herbert Hoover." Pacific

Historical Review 77, no. 4 (11, 2008): 553-84,