Charles Piez

Charles Piez (September 24, 1866 - October 2, 1933) was an American mechanical engineer, manufacturer, and president of the Link-Belt Co..[1]. He was president of the Electric Company, and Vice President and General Manager of the Emergency Fleet Corporation (EFC).[2][3] He is also known as president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers from 1930 to 1931.[4]

Charles Piez
Piez circa 1915
President of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
In office
1930–1931
Personal details
Born(1866-09-24)September 24, 1866
Mainz, Germany
DiedNovember 2, 1933(1933-11-02) (aged 67)
Washington, DC

Biography

Piez was born in Mainz, Germany as son of Jacob Piez and Katherine (Liebig) Piez, both naturalized American citizens.[5] He emigrated with his parents to the United States, and attended public schools in Manhattan, New York City.[6] He entered the School of Mines of Columbia University in the class of 1888. Due to financial reverses in the family he worked for a year, and graduated with the class of 1889.[7]

After graduation Piez started his career in the industry as engineer draftsman at the Link-Belt Engineering Corporation in Philadelphia[6] under James Mapes Dodge. He worked his way up chief engineer, general manager, and eventually vice-president until 1906.

In 1906 the Link-Belt Engineering Corporation merged into the Link-Belt Co., and Piez was elected president.[6] Piez held the position of president until 1917.[8] After the outbreak of World War I, Piez was appointed vice-president of Emergency Fleet Corporation (EFC). In 1917 he was also appointed manager of shipping board as successor of Rear-Admiral Frederic R. Harris.[9] In 1919, Piez forbid the Seattle ship manufacturers from meeting workers demands, triggering the Seattle General Strike. Piez was singled out as a prime target of the strike. The action was unsuccessful.[10] Until his retirement in April 1933 Piez served as chairman of the board of the Link-Belt Corporation.[6]

In 1925-1927 Piez served as President of Illinois Manufacturers' Association.[11], from 1930 to 1931 served as president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

He died on October 2, 1933 in Washington, DC.[1]

Selected publications

References
  1. "Charles Piez Dies. Built Ships In War. As Head of Emergency Fleet Corp. Directed Spending of $3,000,000,000. Succeeded C. M. Schwab. Chairman of Link-Belt Company. Was Instrumental in Framing Labor Laws in Illinois". New York Times. October 3, 1933.
  2. The American Architect and Engineer Blue Book: A Distinct Cyclopedia of 1921. 1912. p. 242.
  3. Edward N. Hurley. The Bridge to France. 1927.
  4. American Machinist, 1933. p. 308
  5. James Terry White (1967). The National cyclopaedia of American biography. p. 17
  6. Iron Age, Vol. 132. 1933. p. 53
  7. The Iron Trade Review. 1918. p. 1565
  8. Grain and Farm Service Centers, Vol. 39. 1917. p. 997
  9. "Charles Piez Made Manager of Ship Board." Chicago Tribune, December 18, 1917
  10. The Seattle General Strike by Friedheim, Robert L. Reprinted 2018
  11. Industry Week. Vol. 78, 1926. p. 367
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