George Getty

For the US Civil War Union general, see George W. Getty.

George Getty
File:George Franklin Getty (1855-1930).jpg
Born	George Franklin Getty (1855-10-17)October 17, 1855 Allegany County, Maryland, United States
Died	Los Angeles, California, United States
Resting place	Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)
Nationality	American
Education	University of Michigan (JD)
Occupation	Businessman
Known for	Getty Oil
Spouse(s)	Sarah Getty
Children	J. Paul Getty

George Franklin Getty (October 17, 1855 – May 31, 1930) was an American lawyer, father of industrialist J. Paul Getty and patriarch of the Getty family.

Background

George Franklin Getty was born in 1855 in Allegany County, Maryland to Martha Ann Wily and John Getty (1835-1861), who was the son of James Getty and the grandson of another John Getty, a Scotch Irish Presbyterian who immigrated to America and was a relative of the namesake of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. However, Robert Lenzner claims in his book "The Great Getty" that Gettysburg was founded by the Gettys family, not Getty. Shortly after his birth Getty's family moved from Maryland to Ohio where his father died in 1861. Getty was forced to work at a young age until his uncle, Joseph Getty, provided funds for George to attend school.

Eventually Getty married and attended law school in Michigan and was admitted to the bar. In 1884, George F. Getty moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota where he specialized in insurance and corporate law and made a good living in what was the "flour capital" of America. In 1890 his first child, a daughter, died in a typhoid epidemic that hit the city. In 1892, the Gettys had another child, a son, Jean Paul Getty (later known as J. Paul Getty).

In 1904, the Gettys moved from Minnesota to Oklahoma, where George began a career as an independent oilman. Within two years, he had amassed a fortune from his Minnehoma Oil Company and moved his family to Los Angeles, California. In 1913, George lent his son Jean Paul (then aged 21) money to invest in oil wells. By 1915, Jean Paul had made his first million and the following year George and Jean Paul incorporated the Getty Oil Company, later to become Getty Oil.

George never approved of Jean Paul's lifestyle. Perhaps this is why he did not leave the company in the sole control of his son. George F. Getty died in 1930. He left his estate, in the form of the controlling interest in the family firm "George F. Getty, Inc." and valued at between $10 million and $15 million U.S., to his wife Sarah, although Jean Paul Getty became President of the firm.

George Getty II

Jean Paul Getty's eldest son, George Franklin Getty's grandson, was named George Franklin Getty II (1924–1973), and was an executive in the Getty Oil company until his death. His residence, Getty House, was then donated to the city, and became the official residence of the serving Mayor of Los Angeles.