Jesse Robert Lovejoy
- Birthdate
- 1863/11/10
- Birthplace
- Columbus, OH, USA
- Death date
- 1945/10/31
- Associated organizations
- General Electric (GE)
Biography
Jesse Robert Lovejoy was born on November 10th, 1863 in Columbus, Ohio, the son of Nathan E. Lovejoy. He attended the Ohio State University at Columbus, and graduated with a B.S. degree in 1884. In 1886, he was employed by the Thomas-Houston Electric Company at Lynn, MA, as an apprentice, preferring to specialize in incandescent lighting over arc lighting.
In 1887, Lovejoy became construction superintendent for the Thomson-Houston company, and was brought into the practical side of the business, becoming a strong advocate for the central station.
After the formation of General Electric in 1892, Lovejoy became the manager of the supply department, and was the manager over the railway and lighting department in 1900. He was elected vice-president and promoted to general sales manager in 1907. Through his management of the sales department, Lovejoy's influence helped the company expand its business overseas, and became president of the Mexican General Electric Company, the South African General Electric Company, the Australian General Electric Company and the South American General Electric Company. In May of 1922, he became a director, and was elected an honorary vice-president of the General Electric Company in 1928.
Lovejoy was a Fellow of the AIEE. Lovejoy married Mary Gould in 1892. He died on October 31st, 1945.
