Charles Brinckerhoff

Charles McFarlan Brinckerhoff
Born(1901-03-15)March 15, 1901
Minnesota, U.S.
DiedApril 22, 1987(1987-04-22) (aged 86)
Beacon, New York, U.S.
Education
Occupations
  • Industrialist
  • engineer
EmployerAnaconda Copper
AwardsHoover Medal (1979)
William Lawrence Saunders Gold Medal (1968)

Charles McFarlan Brinckerhoff (15 March 1901 Minneapolis – April 22, 1987) was an American engineer and businessman who was formerly the chairman and CEO of Anaconda Copper, the world's largest producer of copper.[1] He was a recipient of the Hoover Medal and the William Lawrence Saunders Gold Medal.[2][3]

Biography

Brinckerhoff was born on March 15, 1901, in Minnesota and grew up in Elmhurst, Queens. He earned a bachelor's degree from Columbia College in 1922 and a graduate degree in engineering from Columbia School of Mines in 1925.[4]

After graduating from Columbia, he was an engineer for the Phelps Dodge Corporation at Morenci, Arizona. He later felt the need to learn practical mining and joined Inspiration mine as a miner, working his way up to be a foreman, and was made engineer. At Inspiration, he introduced numerous improvements in the practice of caving, which were employed by caving operations throughout the world.[5]

In 1935, he took the position of an assistant mine superintendent at the Potrerillos mine. In 1945, he was made general manager of that operation.[6] From 1945 to 1948, he was general manager of the Chile Exploration Company, which owned the Chuquicamata mine, the largest copper mine in the world. Under his leadership, the production doubled, and the pay for workers at the mine became the third highest in the world.[7]

In the early 1950s, Brinckerhoff was offered to join Southern Peru Copper Corporation as general manager and president. When he tendered his resignation, Clyde Weed, then CEO of Anaconda Copper, revealed that he was destined to succeed him as CEO of the company. In 1958, Brinckerhoff was promoted president of the parent organization, Anaconda Copper, and in 1964 its chief executive officer.[5]

In 1965, he became chairman of Anaconda Copper, a position he held until his retirement in 1969, ending his 23 year-career in Chile.[7][8][9]

After retiring, he was a consultant to the Shah of Iran and helped develop the Sarcheshme Copper Mine.[5] He also took part in the negotiations that led to the "Chilenizacion" of copper mines under President Eduardo Frei Montalva in 1971.[8]

Awards

In 1956, the Chilean government bestowed upon him the Order of Bernardo O'Higgins, the highest award Chile makes to non-nationals for distinguished service to the country.[7]

In 1961, Columbia School of Engineering and Applied Science awarded Brinckerhoff the Egleston medal, the university's highest award for "distinguished engineering achievement".[10]

Brinckerhoff was also the recipient of the William Lawrence Saunders Gold Medal in 1968, bestowed by the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers for "outstanding administrative and technical ability, and for discerning foresight and leadership in the minerals industry."[3]

In 1979, he was awarded the Hoover Medal for being a "distinguished mining and metallurgical engineer; leader in converting world resources into metals needed by man; expander of the base of higher education; exponent of improved human relations as the basis for industrial advancement; friend of developing countries; diplomat; humanitarian".[6]

Personal life

Brinckerhoff married Florence Andreen in 1935. They had one daughter, Carol Kietzman.[5] He died of pneumonia on April 22, 1987, at the Lenox Hill Hospital at age 86.[4][11]

Bibliography

Notes

  1. ^ New York Times, May 28, 1965, p. 41.
  2. ^ ASME ("Past Hoover Medal Recipients"), 2007.
  3. ^ a b AIME (Saunders Gold Medal), 1968.
  4. ^ a b Columbia University Record, May 1, 1987, p. 2.
  5. ^ a b c d NAE (Malozemoff), 1987.
  6. ^ a b AIME (Hoover Medal), 1979.
  7. ^ a b c National Mining Hall of Fame, 1995.
  8. ^ a b UPI Archives, Apr. 22, 1987.
  9. ^ Minería chilena (Baros), Oct. 14, 2008.
  10. ^ New York Times, Oct. 20, 1961, p. 19.
  11. ^ New York Times, Apr. 22, 1987, p. 12D.

References

  • AIME (American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers).
    1. "Awards & Scholarships":
      1. 1968: AIME William Lawrence Saunders Gold Medal. "Charles M. Brinckerhoff (SME)" ("For outstanding administrative and technical ability, and for discerning foresight and leadership in the minerals industry."). Archived from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
      2. 1979: Hoover Medal. "Charles Brinckerhoff" ("Distinguished mining and metallurgical engineer; leader in converting world resources into metals needed by man; expander of the base of higher education; exponent of improved human relations as the basis for industrial advancement; friend of developing countries; diplomat; humanitarian."). Archived from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
    1. 2007: "Past Hoover Medal Recipients": "1979, Charles M. Brinckerhoff". Archived from the original on January 2, 2026. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
    1. "Noted Alumnus": "Charles M. Brinckerhoff". Vol. 12, no. 28. May 1, 1987. p. 2 (column 2, bottom half).
      1. Digitized image of original. Retrieved August 4, 2021 – via Columbia.
      2. Pdf download (full issue). Retrieved August 4, 2021 – via Columbia.
    1. Baros, María Celia M. (October 14, 2008). "De Minnesota a Chuquicamata" ["From Minnesota to Chuquicamata"] (in Spanish). Archived from the original on July 18, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
Deck (subhead), translated from Spanish to English: "The distinguished American engineer was a key figure in twentieth-century Chilean mining, having held strategic positions in Potrerillos and Chuquicamata and contributing to the development of El Salvador and Exótica." [for the Exótica Mine, see Chuquicamata § Anaconda Copper era (1923–1971)]
    1. Malozemoff, Plato (1909–1997) (1987). Charles M. Brinckerhoff, 1901–1987 (obituary). Archived from the original on September 30, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2021.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
    1. "Charles M. Brinckerhoff" (Induction Year: 1995 → Inductee Number 119). Archived from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
    1. "Columbia to Honor Anaconda Head" (obituary). Vol. 111, no. 37890. October 20, 1961. p. 19. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
      1. Via TimesMachine blog.
      2. Via TimesMachine.
      3. Pdf via TimesMachine (PDF).
      4. Permalink via TimesMachine.
      5. Via ProQuest 116864504 (ProQuest database → Historical Newspapers: Global).
    2. "Anaconda Selects Brinckerhoff as Chairman and Chief Officer — Executive Has Spent All but 2 Years of Career In Company – Extra Payment Voted". Vol. 114, no. 39206. May 28, 1965. p. 41. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
      1. Via TimesMachine blog.
      2. Via TimesMachine.
      3. Pdf via TimesMachine (PDF).
      4. Permalink via TimesMachine.
      5. Via ProQuest 116864504 (ProQuest database → Historical Newspapers: Global).
    3. "Charles Brinckerhoff" (obituary). Vol. 114, no. 39206. April 22, 1987. p. 27 (section D). Retrieved August 4, 2021.
      1. Via TimesMachine blog.
      2. Via TimesMachine (digital image 112 of 112).
      3. Permalink via TimesMachine.
      4. Via ProQuest 426473850 (ProQuest database → Central).
      5. Via ProQuest 110783582 (ProQuest database → Historical Newspapers: Global).
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