OLIVER FISHER WINCHESTER
Name: Oliver Fisher Winchester
Born: November 30, 1810
Boston
Died: December 11, 1880
Oliver Fisher Winchester (November 30, 1810 – December 11, 1880) was an American
businessman and politician.
He was the son of Samuel Winchester and Hannah Bates and was born in Boston on
November 30, 1810. He married Jane Ellen Hope in Boston on February 20, 1834.
Their children were:
Ann Rebecca Winchester (1835-1864) who married Charles B. Dye
William Wirt Winchester (1837-1881) who married Sarah Lockwood Pardee
Hannah Jane Winchester who married Thomas Gray Bennett
Winchester was known for manufacturing and marketing the Winchester repeating
rifle, which was a much re-designed descendant of the Volcanic rifle of some
years earlier. Winchester started as a clothing manufacturer in New York City
and New Haven, Connecticut. During this period he discovered that a division of
Smith & Wesson firearms was failing financially with one of their newly patented
arms. Having an eye for opportunity, Winchester assembled venture capital
together with other stockholders and acquired the S&W division, better known as
the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company, in 1850. By 1856, Winchester had positioned
himself as the principal stockholder in the company and relocated to New Haven,
changing the name to New Haven Arms Company.
Name: Oliver Fisher Winchester
Born: November 30, 1810
Boston
Died: December 11, 1880
Oliver Fisher Winchester (November 30, 1810 – December 11, 1880) was an American
businessman and politician.
He was the son of Samuel Winchester and Hannah Bates and was born in Boston on
November 30, 1810. He married Jane Ellen Hope in Boston on February 20, 1834.
Their children were:
Ann Rebecca Winchester (1835-1864) who married Charles B. Dye
William Wirt Winchester (1837-1881) who married Sarah Lockwood Pardee
Hannah Jane Winchester who married Thomas Gray Bennett
Winchester was known for manufacturing and marketing the Winchester repeating
rifle, which was a much re-designed descendant of the Volcanic rifle of some
years earlier. Winchester started as a clothing manufacturer in New York City
and New Haven, Connecticut. During this period he discovered that a division of
Smith & Wesson firearms was failing financially with one of their newly patented
arms. Having an eye for opportunity, Winchester assembled venture capital
together with other stockholders and acquired the S&W division, better known as
the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company, in 1850. By 1856, Winchester had positioned
himself as the principal stockholder in the company and relocated to New Haven,
changing the name to New Haven Arms Company.