- Great American Business Leaders of the Twentieth Century
William A. Fairburn
Diamond Match Company
1915 - 1947
Fabricated Goods
b. 1876
| Education |  |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | University of Glasgow |
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Born-Died | 1876 - 1947 |
| Birthplace | England |
| Race | White |
| Father | Laborer, Skilled |
Fairburn revolutionized U.S. match manufacturing by using sesquisulphate to produce matches rather than white phosphorus, which had been publicly condemned for leading to poisoning. Under Fairburn, Diamond Match controlled 90% of domestic match production and was closely allied with its British and European counterparts. In 1915, 100% of Diamond Match’s profits came from match sales. Fairburn diversified the company so that by 1940 only 50% of Diamond Match’s revenues came from match sales.