Couzens, James, 1872-1936

U.S. senator from Michigan, mayor of Detroit, Michigan, and industrialist.

From the description of James Couzens papers, 1903-1940. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70982271

Detroit Mayor and civic leader, U.S. Senator, Ford Motor Co. executive

James Couzens was born in Chatham, Ont., Aug. 26, 1872, son of James J. and Emma (Clift) Couzens; married Margaret A. Manning, Aug. 31, 1898. Began the manufacture of automobiles in 1903 ; vice-president, general manager, and treasurer of Ford Motor Company of Detroit ; vice-president, Ford Motor Company of Canada ; director, Ford Motor Company of England, Ltd. ; director, Detroit Trust Company; president of Detroit Board of Commerce; director, U.S. Chamber of Commerce ; chairman for Wayne County of U.S. Fuel Administration, World War I ; commissioner, Detroit Police Dept. ; commissioner of Street Railways ; mayor Detroit, 1919-1922 ; member, U.S. Senate, 1922-31 ; chairman, Detroit Community Fund ; president, Children's Hospital of Michigan. He died in 1936.

From the description of James Couzens correspondence, 1919-1921 (Detroit Public Library). WorldCat record id: 317700933

Biographical Note

• 1872, Aug. 26: Born, Chatham, Ontario, Canada
• 1890: Moved to Detroit, Mich.
• 1890 - 1897 : Car-checker, Michigan Central Railroad, Detroit, Mich.
• 1897 - 1903 : Clerk, Malcomson Fuel Co., Detroit, Mich.
• 1898: Married Margaret Manning
• 1903 - 1915 : General manager and treasurer, Ford Motor Co., Detroit, Mich.
• 1913 - 1915 : President, Bank of Detroit Director, Detroit Trust Co. Commissioner of street railways, Detroit, Mich.
• 1916 - 1918 : Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Department, Detroit, Mich.
• 1919: Sold interest in Ford Motor Co. to Ford family
• 1919 - 1922 : Mayor, Detroit, Mich.
• 1922 - 1936 : United States senator from Michigan; appointed in 1922, elected in 1924 and 1930
• 1936, Oct. 22: Died, Detroit, Mich.

From the guide to the James Couzens Papers, 1903-1940, (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)