Charles W. Morse

This article is about the New York businessman known as the "Ice King". For the anarchist, see Chuck W. Morse. For the Bostonian businessman known as the "Ice King", see Frederic Tudor.
Charles W. Morse
Born(1856-10-21)October 21, 1856
Bath, Maine
DiedJanuary 12, 1933(1933-01-12) (aged 76)
Bath, Maine
NationalityAmerican
Alma materBowdoin College
Occupation(s)Banker, businessperson
Criminal charge(s)Fraud, war profiteering

Charles Wyman Morse (October 21, 1856 – January 12, 1933) was an American businessman and speculator who committed frauds and engaged in corrupt business practices. At one time he controlled 13 banks.[1] Known as the "Ice King" early in his career out of New York City, through Tammany Hall corruption he established a monopoly in New York's ice business,[2] before buying several shipping companies and moving into high finance. His attempt to manipulate the price of copper-shares set off a wave of selling that developed into the Panic of 1907. Jailed for violating federal banking laws, he faked serious illness and was released. Later he was indicted for war profiteering and fraud.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference nyt-dead-of was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Hemenway, David. Prices And Choices. pp. 189–200.