New-York tribune., 1902-01-24
SKETCH Of HR. DRYDEN.
PRESIDENT OF THE PRUDENTIAL INSUR-
ANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA. AND A
LEADING NEW-JERSEY BANKER


John F. Dryden. president of the Prudential
Insurance Company of America and leading
capitalist in banking trolley and other large
corporate enterprises. has his home in Newark
In person he much resembles Rear Admiral
Sampson. although of stronger physique In
mental ability he is equalled by few men who
have attained. like him. great success in life
and few men equal to the great burdens and
responsibilities that Mr.. Dryden has borne for
years and that he seems to bear lightly.
John F. Dryden is Of old New England stock.
He was born on August 4. 1889. at Farming
ton, Me, and educated for the legal pro-
fession. His training in law has been OF great
use to him IN his subsequent career. He was
not very strong physically. and was of a retir-
ing and studiOus disposition. At Yale Uni
versty. where his parents sent him. he devoted
himself closely to study. with the result of i'm
pairing his health. and by advice of phyni-
clans he was compelled to give up his hopes Of
graduation. and left the university.
The subject of insurance early engaged Mr.
a study of its principles, mastering the theory
Of finance the construction of tables. averages
percentages. compounds. futurities and scientific
monetary economy About 1865 he read a re-
port on the subject of industrial insurance to
the Massachusetts legislature by Professor
Eleazer Wright. the State Insurance Commits
sioner. 1t criticised the methods of the Pruden-
tial Insurance Company of London, England.
Mr.. Dryden procured all the reports of the COM
pany and analyzed them. and decided that the
Insurance Commissioner was wrong This gave
him the idea of formulating an industrial in
surance system for the United States. He sub
mitted plans to some New England capitalists.
but they were not received with favor
In 1873 Mr. Dryden went 10 Newark and in
terested such men Noah F. Blanchard, WILL
lam H. Murphy. father of Governor Muir
ply; Horace Alling, Leslie D. Ward and others
bill was passed by the legislature and in
1879 the Prudential Insurance Company of
America was founded. From its inception MIR
Dryden the soul and spirit of the enterprise
For several years he was secretary, and when
Noah f. Blanchard, the president, retired, Mr..
Dryden succeeded him.
The steady faith, the uncomfortable will and
energy of Mr.. Dryden carried the
company through several crises and overcame
many formidable difficulties. until the company
became firmly planted and began it's great
growth. From the basement of the State Bank
the institution moved into the Kremlin Build
ing and thence to the So 600 600 stone struct-
ure at Broad and Bank SITS. built by the COM
pany which has recently been added to by
other great and ornate buildings, making the
finest single group of office buildings in the
world.
Mr. Dryden was one of the founders OF the
Fidelity Trust Company, started fifteen years
ago which is about to increase its capital to
So 900 coo and to organize two or more banks
into one large bank under its control. He is
largely interested in the North Jersey Street
Railroad Company. and is of three owners
of the Newark and South Orange line, sub
sidiary company of the North Jersey system.
These and other interests are, however, COM
mOnplace to him compared with his love for
the Prudential the great child of his creation.
and his interest in it's workings He is in close
touch with the multitude OF details of the vast
system. In the construction of the office build
ings he gave daily auriences to the architect.
and worked on the plans and estimates with an
interest that never tagged. His recreation Is
taken in a superb home in the Highlands.
A Republican all his life Mr. Dryden has
taken active interest in public affairs. In
1896 he was one of the New-Jersey Republican
electors, and served again in that capacity in
1900 When the term of United States Senator
Smith expired Mr.. Dryden was put forward as
a candidate for the seat. but he made no effort
to attain it, and gave encouragement TO his
friends Engrossed with business affairs he has
shown desire for public Office though alv avs
lxeenly alive to party interests. In the last
for Governor he appeared at a great
meeting in the Newark Auditorium and made a
brilliant speech in favor of the election of Frank
lin Murphy. To the party organization he has
been generous contributor. He is one OF the
State committee TO raise funds for a memorial
TO Mckinley at Canton. Ohio, and he is a steady
to religious and charitable objects