John Stuart (1877–1969) was the

chief executive officer A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a chief executive or managing director, is the top-ranking corporate officer charged with the management of an organization, usually a company or a nonprofit organization. CEOs find roles in variou ...

of the

Quaker Oats Company The Quaker Oats Company, known as Quaker, is an American food Conglomerate (company), conglomerate based in Chicago, Illinois. As Quaker Mill Company, the company was founded in 1877 in Ravenna, Ohio. In 1881, Henry Crowell bought the company and ...

from 1922 to 1953.

Biography

John Stuart was born in

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

in 1877, the son of Robert Stuart and his wife Margaret Shearer. He was educated at the

University of Chicago Laboratory Schools The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (also known as Lab, Lab Schools, or U-High, abbreviated UCLS) is a private, co-educational, day pre-school and K-12 school affiliated with the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. Almost half ...

. As a teenager, he would work in his father's mill in

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Cedar Rapids is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States, and its county seat. The population was 137,710 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in Iowa, second-most populous city in Iowa. The city lies o ...

sweeping floors. After high school, he was educated at

Princeton University Princeton University is a private university, private Ivy League research university in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial ...

, graduating in 1900. He won the first TransMississippi Amateur golf tournament at the Kansas City Country Club in 1901. In 1899, Stuart's father and his business partner

Henry Parsons Crowell Henry Parsons Crowell (January 27, 1855 in Cleveland, OhioCROWELL, Henry Parsons
in ...

had used a

proxy fight A proxy fight, proxy contest or proxy battle is an unfriendly contest for control over an organization. The event usually occurs when a corporation's stockholders develop opposition to some aspect of the corporate governance, often focusing on dir ...

to gain control of the American Cereal Company from Ferdinand Schumacher. In 1901, they renamed the company the

, to take advantage of the brand previously built up by Crowell's Quaker Mill Company. In 1907, at age 30, Stuart was named a

director Director may refer to: Literature * ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine * ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker * ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty Music * Director (band), an Irish rock band * ''D ...

of the Quaker Oats Company and soon became thoroughly acquainted with the business. Stuart took over as CEO of the Quaker Oats Company in 1922, at age 43. His brother

R. Douglas Stuart Robert Douglas Stuart (January 20, 1886 – January 5, 1975) was a United States businessman who served as United States Ambassador to Canada from 1953 to 1956. Early life Stuart was born in Chicago in 1886, the son of Robert Stuart and his wif ...

then took over marketing responsibilities from Crowell a short time later. During Stuart's time as CEO, the company introduced new products, such as

Puffed Wheat Puffed grains are grains that have been expanded ("puffed") through processing. They have been made for centuries with the simplest methods like popping popcorn. Modern puffed grains are often created using high temperature, pressure, or extrus ...

and

Puffed Rice Puffed rice and popped rice (or pop rice) are types of puffed grain made from rice commonly eaten in the traditional cuisines of Southeast Asia, East Asia, and South Asia. It has also been produced commercially in the West since 1904 and is popu ...

. The company purchased

Aunt Jemima Aunt Jemima was an American breakfast brand for pancake mix, table syrup, and other breakfast food products. The original version of the pancake mix was developed in 1888–1889 by the Pearl Milling Company and was advertised as the first " ...

in 1925. The company diversified in 1942 with the purchase of

dog food Dog food is specifically formulated food intended for consumption by dogs and other related canines. Dogs are considered to be omnivores with a carnivorous bias. They have the sharp, pointed teeth and shorter gastrointestinal tracts of carn ...

brand

Ken-L Ration Ken-L Ration is a brand of canned and dry dog food. In 1922, canned pet food became popularly known on the market after Ken-L Ration, the first to release horse meat in their pet food after purchasing cheap horse meat from PM Chappel. Ken-L Rati ...

, to be followed up by the acquisition of the Puss 'n Boots

cat food Cat food is food specifically formulated and designed for consumption by cats. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, cats in London were often fed horse meat sold by traders known as Cats’ Meat Men or Women, who traveled designated routes ...

brand in 1950. Stuart stepped down as CEO in 1953, handing the reins to his designated successor

Donold Lourie Donold B. Lourie (August 22, 1899 – January 15, 1990) was an American businessman, government official, and college football player. He served for many years as the president of the Quaker Oats Company, and held various other executive posit ...

. In addition to his work at the Quaker Oats Company, Stuart sat on the board of directors of

International Harvester The International Harvester Company (often abbreviated IH or International) was an American manufacturer of agricultural and construction equipment, automobiles, commercial trucks, lawn and garden products, household equipment, and more. It wa ...

, the

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC; ) is a Canadian Multinational corporation, multinational banking and financial services corporation headquartered at CIBC Square in the Financial District, Toronto, Financial District of Toronto, Ont ...

, the

Pennsylvania Railroad The Pennsylvania Railroad ( reporting mark PRR), legal name as the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, also known as the "Pennsy," was an American Class I railroad that was established in 1846 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At its ...

, and

Northern Trust Northern Trust Corporation is an American financial services company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, that caters to corporations, institutional investors, and ultra high net worth individuals. Northern Trust is one of the List of largest ban ...

. He was a

trustee Trustee (or the holding of a trusteeship) is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, refers to anyone in a position of trust and so can refer to any individual who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the ...

and of the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, or UChi) is a Private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its main campus is in the Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, Chic ...

. Also, in 1947, at the request of

President of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...

Harry Truman Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. As the 34th vice president in 1945, he assumed the presidency upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt that year. Subsequen ...

, Stuart was a member of the

Hoover Commission The Hoover Commission, officially named the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government, was a body appointed by President of the United States, President Harry S. Truman in 1947 to recommend administrative changes in the ...

. Stuart was married to the former Ellen Shumway. Together the couple had two daughters and a son, John Stuart, Jr. Stuart died at Lake Forest Hospital on December 26, 1969.

References

Company History from the Quaker Oats website
* "John Stuart, Quaker Oats Director, Dies", ''Chicago Tribune'', Dec. 27, 1969 {{DEFAULTSORT:Stuart, John 1877 births 1969 deaths American chief executives of food industry companies Businesspeople from Chicago Princeton University alumni Quaker Oats Company University of Chicago Laboratory Schools alumni