Fred Trump was a New York real estate developer who was the father of Donald Trump. He began his career in home construction and sales in partnership with his mother, Elizabeth Christ Trump.
In 1927, they incorporated their business as E. Trump & Son, which later became known as the Trump Organization.
Prior to his success, he went through a tragedy when his father died during the Spanish Flu endemic in 1918. His father had acquired wealth, and it then transferred over to Fred and his mother, which is how they formed the business mentioned prior.
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Trump's company built and managed single-family houses in Queens, barracks and garden apartments for U.S. Navy personnel near major shipyards along the East Coast, and more than 27,000 apartments in New York City.
He was investigated by a U.S. Senate committee for profiteering in 1954 and again by the State of New York in 1966. In 1973, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Trump Management, his real estate company, alleging that it had discriminated against black and Hispanic tenants.
The company settled the lawsuit in 1975, agreeing to pay $200,000 in damages and to change its rental policies.
Trump died in 1999 at the age of 93, and a year later, his wife passed away.
Family Overview
The family of Fred Trump originated in the German Empire. His father illegally migrated to the United States when he was 16 and eventually went back to Germany until he was deported back to America. If not for that deportation, then American History would look different, as would New York's landscape.
If he had stayed in Germany, then the Trump family would have probably participated in World War 1 and World War 2 on the German side. However, the deportation worked out, and Fred's father made a large amount of money and then began investing in real estate within the state of New York.
Fred would inherit some of his dad's wealth but would become a self-made man in New York real estate. At the time of his death, he was worth $250 million. His children would also go on to become successful, with the exception of one son who died due to alcoholism.
Obviously, most people know about the popularity of Donald Trump, but many don't realize that Fred's children and siblings were also successful. He had a daughter who had a successful law career and a son who was also excellent in business.
He had a brother who was on the frontier with Cancer research.
Fred and his wife Mary remained married for over 60 years. This is much different than all but one of his children. It was their marriage that laid the foundation for their children's success.
Family Tree Chart
Parents:
Friedrich Trump (1869 - 1918) - An interesting guy. He migrated to the United States to avoid the German draft. He then became successful during his time with some unscrupulous businesses. He then met his wife and moved back to Germany, but was deported back to the United States for avoiding the draft. He moved to New York City, where he began to invest in real estate. He died during the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918.
Elisabeth Maria Christ (1880 - 1966) - She met her husband and then, due to becoming homesick, moved back to Germany. After her husband's deportation, she returned to America and lived in New York City. The couple had three children.
Spouse:
Mary Anne MacLeod (1912 - 2000) - She came to America from Scotland with $50 in her pocket. She lived with a sister and would eventually meet her husband. She became a citizen of the United States in 1942. According to her son Donald, he would do no wrong with her. She passed away a year after her husband's death.
Children:
Maryanne Trump (1937 - Living) - She is the oldest sister of Donald Trump and is known for her sharp legal mind. She was appointed to the United States District Court of New Jersey by Ronald Reagan and then to the Third Circuit of Appeals by Bill Clinton. She has had criticisms of her brother released since he was President.
Frederick Christ Trump Jr. (1938 - 1981) - He died suddenly from a heart attack at 42 years old. He died due to his alcoholism, which caused his heart attack. His death had a huge influence on Donald Trump, who has remained abstinent from alcohol since 1976.
Elizabeth Trump (1942 - Living) - She has remained out of the spotlight and has lived a quiet life. She married in 1989 and eventually retired in Florida.
Donald Trump (1946 - Living) - He was a successful real estate mogul and celebrity prior to becoming the 45th President of the United States. He has had three marriages, with all resulting in children. He announced another run for President after the 2022 mid-terms. He has dealt with more controversy than any other president in American History.
Robert Trump (1948 - 2020) - He was a business executive who managed Trump Management Inc, the Trump Organization's real estate holdings outside Manhattan. He was an investor in SHiRT LLC, one of two owners of Virginia-based CertiPathx. He died at the age of 71 after having a fall and suffering brain bleeds.
Siblings:
Elizabeth Trump (1904 - 1961) - She met and married and had one child in Queens, New York. She would die at the age of 57. Her mother would outlive her.
John George Trump (1907 - 1985) - He became a research associate at MIT that same year, then later became a professor. Though he retired in 1973, he continued his research at MIT as a professor emeritus. One of his most noteworthy contributions was the treatment of cancer by radiation. During World War II, Dr. Trump worked on microwave radar at the MIT Radiation Lab. In 1944, he was named director of the lab and worked directly with the Eisenhower Military Command. At the liberation of Paris, he rode into the city with General Eisenhower and set up the Paris branch of the Radiation lab.