Business & brands / Politics
Frederick Buhl
1806–1890 · furrier, businessman, mayor of Detroit
Hatter-turned-fur-trader who with his brother Christian built one of Detroit's great fortunes and served as mayor in 1848.
- Born
Zelienople, Pennsylvania- Died
Detroit, Michigan
aged 83- Detroit years
- 1833–1890
- Field
- Business & brands, Politics
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Frederick Buhl trained as a jeweler in Pittsburgh but poor health changed his plans, and in 1833 he moved to Detroit. With his younger brother Christian, a hatter, he opened a hat shop that soon branched into furs; as F. & C. H. Buhl the brothers became one of the largest fur businesses in the Great Lakes region. After twenty years Christian withdrew, and Frederick carried on as F. Buhl and Company until 1887, when he sold to his son Walter. He also directed two banks, was president of Harper Hospital and of the Fort Wayne and Elmwood Street Railway, and was an original director of the Merchants' Exchange and Board of Trade. He served on the city council and in 1848 was elected mayor. He died in 1890. The Buhl name remained prominent in Detroit, where family members later built the Buhl Building downtown.
Highlights
- Mayor of Detroit, 1848
- Co-founder of the F. & C. H. Buhl fur company
- President of Harper Hospital
- President of the Fort Wayne and Elmwood Street Railway