Ancestry of
Abigail Johnson

President and CEO of Fidelity Investments

Edward Crosby Johnson II

View famous kin of Edward Crosby Johnson

• • Grandfather of Abigail Johnson — 3rd Generation
  • Ahnentafel No:
  • 4 
  • Father:
  • Samuel Johnson 
  • Mother:
  • Josephine Forbush   
  • Birth Date:
  • 19 Jan 1898 
  • Birth Location:
  • Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts 
  • Christening Date:
  •  
  • Christening Location:
  •  
  • Death Date:
  • 2 Apr 1984 
  • Death Location:
  • Cataumet, Barnstable, Massachusetts 
  • Burial Date:
  •  
  • Burial Location:
  •  
  • Spouse Name:
  • Elsie Livingston Johnson
  • Marriage Date:
  • ABT 1924 
  • Marriage Location:
  •  
  • Child:

  Edward Crosby Johnson III (Ahnentafel No:2 )

  • Notes: 

  • Founder of Fidelity Management and Research Company

    Edward C. Johnson II, born in 1898, was the visionary founder of Fidelity Investments, a global leader in financial services. After earning a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1924, Johnson began his career in the financial sector. His significant contribution came in 1946 when he founded Fidelity Management and Research Company, introducing the first Fidelity mutual fund, the Fidelity Fund.

    Johnson's leadership and innovative approach revolutionized the mutual fund industry, emphasizing research-driven investment strategies. Under his guidance, Fidelity grew exponentially, becoming one of the largest and most influential investment companies in the world. One of its most important accomplishments was the introduction of the first money market fund for individual investors in 1974, known as the Fidelity Daily Income Trust. This innovative product revolutionized the financial industry by providing individual investors with a low-risk, highly liquid investment option that offered competitive yields compared to traditional savings accounts.

    In addition to his business achievements, Johnson served in the U.S. Army during World War I, which contributed to his disciplined and strategic mindset in business. His family also made significant contributions to the company's legacy. His son, Edward C. "Ned" Johnson III, succeeded him and continued to expand Fidelity's global footprint. The latter's daughter, Abigail Johnson, followed in their footsteps becoming the President and CEO of Fidelity Investments in 2014.

    Edward C. Johnson II passed away in 1984, leaving behind a profound legacy in the financial industry. His pioneering efforts and dedication to investment research have left an indelible mark on the world of finance.

• Sources for Edward Crosby Johnson II

  • ¹ The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts), 12 JAN 1981, p. 21, Obituary for spouse Elsie L (Johnson) Johnson.
  • ² The Boston Herald (Boston, Massachusetts), 28 AUG 1932, p. 36, Obituary for father Samuel Johnson.
  • ³ The Boston Herald (Boston, Massachusetts), 16 NOV 1941, Obituary for mother Josephine F Johnson.
  • ⁴ The Boston Herald (Boston, Massachusetts), 18 JAN 1962, p. 27, Birth of granddaughter Abigail Pierrepont Johnson.
  • ⁵ Roberts, Gary Boyd, The Mayflower 500: Five Hundred Notable Descendants of the Founding Families on the Mayflower, Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society (2020), 425.
  • ⁶ Wikipedia, "Edward C. Johnson II", (accessed 07/14/2024).

Abigail Johnson photo by Village Global (CC BY 2.0)