Thomas J. Watson, Sr.*

Thomas Watson was born in Campbell, New York, in 1874. He had many jobs in his early adult years, including teacher, accountant, and salesman. Watson became a successful salesman for the National Cash Register Company (NCR), and eventually became general sales manager.

After 18 years at NCR, Watson was chosen to head the Computing-Tabulating Recording Company, which evolved into International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), in 1914. When Watson assumed the presidency of IBM, it had fewer than 400 employees. Under his inspired leadership, IBM eventually owned or leased more than 90 percent of the tabulating machines in the United States. Watson oversaw IBM's growth into an international force from the 1920s to the 1950s. He later served as president of the International Chamber of Commerce.