Biographical Sketch of Francis Harrington Glidden
Francis Harrington Glidden was born on May 24, 1832, in New Castle, Maine. After education at Lincoln Academy, he married Winifred Kavanaugh Waters in 1854 and had several children. Glidden transitioned from seafaring to a dry-goods merchant before entering the varnish business in 1866. He founded the Glidden Varnish Co. in Cleveland in 1890, where he became a prominent manufacturer and community member, noting the city’s growth and opportunities. He also served as a director at The Central National Bank and was a member of the Clifton Club.