The Henry Ford: The Life of Henry Ford

chronology		Clara and Edsel Ford, 1894. Photo: P.O.801 Henry Ford at the Edison Illuminating Co., 1895. Photo: P.O.491.B One day's production at the Highland Park Plant, August, 1913. Photo: P.O.716 Henry Ford and Thomas Edison laying the cornerstone of Henry Ford Museum, 1929. Photo: P.188.5524 Edsel Ford at the Yale Harvard races, June 1939. Photo: P.833.
1863	Born July 30 in Greenfield Township, Michigan.
1879	Leaves family farm for Detroit to work in machine shops.
1888	Marries Clara Bryant of Greenfield Township and moves to 80-acre farm in what is today Dearborn.
1891	Secures position as engineer with the Edison Illuminating Company; returns to Detroit.
1893	Edsel Bryant Ford, only child of Henry and Clara Ford, born.
1896	Completes his first automobile, the Quadricycle, and drives it through the streets of Detroit.
1899	Ends eight years of employment with the Edison Illuminating Company to devote full attention to the many manufacture of automobiles. Made chief engineer and partner in the newly formed Detroit Automobile Company which produced only a few cars.
1901	Henry Ford Company organized with Ford as engineer. Ford resigns over dispute with bankers in 1902 and the company becomes the Cadillac Motor Car Co.
1903	Ford Motor Company is officially incorporated. Ford's first Model A appears on the market in Detroit.
1908	Ford begins manufacturing the famous Model T.
1910	Begins operations at factory in Highland Park, Michigan.
1913	Introduces first moving automobile assembly line at Highland Park.
1914	Announces his plan to share the Ford Motor Company's profits with workers, paying them $5.00 for an eight hour day.
1915	The Oscar II, Ford's "Peace Ship," sets sail for Norway on a pacifist expedition to end World War I.
1917	Begins construction of industrial facility on the Rouge River in Dearborn, Michigan.
1918	Loses his bid for the U.S. Senate.
1919	Edsel B . Ford, son of Henry Ford, is named president of Ford Motor Company
1921	Ford Motor Company dominates auto production with 55 percent of industry's total output.
1926	Focuses on air transportation and develops the Tri-Motor airplane.
1927	Transfers final assembly line from Highland Park plant to the Rouge. Production of the Model T ends, and the Model A is introduced.
1929	Dedicates his Edison Institute of Technology and Greenfield Village with a celebration of 50 years of the electric light.
1932	Builds first V-8 Ford car.
1933	Successfully resists first efforts to unionize workers at Ford plants.
1937	"Battle of the Overpass" occurs between Ford security staff and United Auto Workers union organizers. As a result, the court orders Ford not to interfere with union activity.
1941	Ford Motor Company signs a contract with UAW.
1943	Edsel B. Ford dies at age 49.
1947	Henry Ford dies at age 83, at Fair Lane, his Dearborn home.