Jesse H. Jones
Jesse H. Jones was a prominent American Democratic politician and entrepreneur from Houston, Texas. He served as Franklin D. Roosevelt's Secretary of Commerce.
Entrepreneur
April 5, 1874
June 01, 1956
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Jesse H. Jones (April 5, 1874 â June 1, 1956) was a notable American Democratic politician and entrepreneur hailing from Houston, Texas. At just fourteen years old, he managed a Tennessee tobacco factory and later founded his own lumberyard company in Houston. Jones gained prominence in the early 20th century for his business expertise and entrepreneurial spirit. He held the position of Secretary of Commerce under President Franklin D. Roosevelt and served as the chairman of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) from 1933 to 1939, playing a pivotal role in the nation’s recovery from the Great Depression. Among his most renowned accomplishments are his leadership in the RFC, his tenure as Secretary of Commerce, the establishment of the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University, and his generous philanthropic efforts through the Houston Endowment Inc.