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Charles Piez

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Charles Piez
Piez, c. 1915
President of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
In office
1930–1931
Personal details
Born(1866-09-24)September 24, 1866
Mainz, Germany
DiedOctober 2, 1933(1933-10-02) (aged 67)
Washington, D.C., U.S.

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]

Biography

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Piez was born in Mainz, Grand Duchy of Hesse, the 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 industry as an engineer draftsman at the Link-Belt Engineering Corporation in Philadelphia[6] under James Mapes Dodge. He worked his way up to 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 the Emergency Fleet Corporation (EFC).[9] He represented the EFC on the priorities board of the War Industries Board.[10][11] In 1917, he was also appointed manager of the United States Shipping Board, succeeding Rear-Admiral Frederic R. Harris.[9] In 1919, Piez forbade 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.[12] 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 the Illinois Manufacturers' Association.[13] From 1930 to 1931, he served as president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.[14]

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

Selected publications

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References

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  1. ^ a b "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". The 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. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b "Charles Piez Made Manager of Ship Board." Chicago Tribune, December 18, 1917
  10. ^ Members of the War Industries Board Organization. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. 1919. p. 21. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  11. ^ Haynes, Williams (1945). "Appendix X: The War Industries Board". American Chemical Industry: The World War I Period: 1912–1922. Vol. II. New York, New York: D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc. p. 353. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  12. ^ The Seattle General Strike by Friedheim, Robert L. Reprinted 2018
  13. ^ Industry Week. Vol. 78, 1926. p. 367
  14. ^ "ASME Presidents". The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
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