Charles Piez


Charles Piez was an American mechanical engineer, manufacturer, and president of the Link-Belt Co... He was president of the Electric Company, and vice president and general manager of the Emergency Fleet Corporation. He is also known as president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers from 1930 to 1931.

Biography

Piez was born in Mainz, Germany as son of Jacob Piez and Katherine Piez, both naturalized American citizens. He emigrated with his parents to the United States, and attended public schools in Manhattan, New York City. He entered the School of Mines of Columbia University in the class of 1888. Due to financial reverses in the family he worked for a year, and graduated with the class of 1889.
After graduation Piez started his career in the industry as engineer draftsman at the Link-Belt Engineering Corporation in Philadelphia under James Mapes Dodge. He worked his way up chief engineer, general manager, and eventually vice-president until 1906.
In 1906 the Link-Belt Engineering Corporation merged into the Link-Belt Co., and Piez was elected president. Piez held the position of president until 1917. After the outbreak of World War I, Piez was appointed vice-president of Emergency Fleet Corporation. In 1917 he was also appointed manager of shipping board as successor of Rear-Admiral Frederic R. Harris. In 1919, Piez forbid the Seattle ship manufacturers from meeting workers demands, triggering the Seattle General Strike. Piez was singled out as a prime target of the strike. The action was unsuccessful. Until his retirement in April 1933 Piez served as chairman of the board of the Link-Belt Corporation.
In 1925-1927 Piez served as President of Illinois Manufacturers' Association., from 1930 to 1931 served as president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
He died on October 2, 1933 in Washington, DC.

Selected publications