Farquhar, Percival, 1864-1953

American engineer.

Percival Farquhar was born in York, Pennsylvania on October 19, 1864. He graduated from Sheffield Scientific School in 1884 and joined his father's New York based export company, which shipped machinery to Latin America. In 1885, Farquhar studied law briefly at Columbia Law School. After serving as an assemblyman in the New York state legislature from 1890 to 1892, he joined a friend's company developing electric railroads and real estate in New Jersey. In 1898, Farquhar began a long career of financial operations in Latin America to modernize tramways. From 1907 to 1914, he directed his attention and resources to the improvement of the ports and railroads of Brazil, in particular, the Madeira-Mamoré Railway and the Port of Para. He also established the Brazil Railway Company. From 1919 to 1941, Farquhar managed the Itabira project, designed to revive the Itabira Iron Ore Company and to build a railway to a new port near Vitória. Thwarted by nationalistic opposition and financial losses, the Itabira project did not succeed in his lifetime. Farquhar died in New York City on August 4, 1953.

Percival Farquhar was born in York, Pennsylvania on October 19, 1864. He graduated from Sheffield Scientific School in 1884 and joined his father's New York based export company, which shipped machinery to Latin America. In 1885, Farquhar studied law briefly at Columbia Law School. After serving as an assemblyman in the New York state legislature from 1890 to 1892, he joined a friend's company developing electric railroads and real estate in New Jersey. In 1898, Farquhar began a long career of financial operations in Latin America to modernize tramways. From 1907 to 1914, he directed his attention and resources to the improvement of the ports and railroads of Brazil, in particular, the Madeira-Mamoré Railway and the Port of Para. He also established the Brazil Railway Company. From 1919 to 1941, Farquhar managed the Itabira project, designed to revive the Itabira Iron Ore Company and to build a railway to a new port near Vitória. Thwarted by nationalistic opposition and financial losses, the Itabira project did not succeed in his lifetime. Farquhar died in New York City on August 4, 1953.

Biographical/Historical Note

American engineer.