Benjamin Graham
Born 1894 · Age 132
English‑American financial analyst, investor, professor; father of value investing; co‑author of Security Analysis (1934) and author of The Intelligent Investor (1949); founder of Graham–Newman.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born Benjamin Grossbaum in London
Born at 87 Aberdeen Road, London, England (later changed family name to Graham).
Family emigrated to New York City
Moved from London to New York when he was about one year old.
Panic of 1907 and family financial hardship
After his father's death and the Panic of 1907 the family fell into poverty; formative influence on his focus on financial security.
Entered Columbia University on scholarship
Enrolled at Columbia College at age 16 on scholarship; excelled academically.
Graduated Columbia University (salutatorian)
Finished studies in three-and-a-half years and graduated as salutatorian; offered teaching posts but chose to work to support his mother.
Family changed surname to Graham
Family changed name from Grossbaum to Graham to assimilate and avoid anti-Jewish sentiment (commonly dated to about this period).
Joined Newburger, Henderson & Loeb (Wall Street)
Took a job as a runner/board boy for Newburger, Henderson & Loeb; began career on Wall Street to support his widowed mother.
Published 'Some Calculus Suggestions by a Student' (paper)
Academic paper in The American Mathematical Monthly (early publication outside finance).
Became partner at Newburger, Henderson & Loeb
Promoted to partner; sources report salary around $50,000/year at that time.
Wrote Broadway play 'Baby Pompadour' (creative work)
Authored a Broadway play; one of several nonfinancial pursuits mentioned in biographies.
Founded investment partnership with Jerome Newman (Graham–Newman)
Formed his own investment partnership with Jerome Newman; early iteration of Graham–Newman activities began in the mid‑1920s.
Northern Pipeline shareholder activism
Led an early case of shareholder activism against Northern Pipeline (a Standard Oil spinoff) to redistribute excess cash and bonds to shareholders.
Began lecturing at Columbia Business School with David Dodd
Started teaching security analysis and value investing with David Dodd; the course later became very influential.
Stock Market Crash (Great Depression) — heavy losses
The 1929 crash cost Graham and many investors large sums; he learned lessons that shaped Security Analysis and his investment philosophy.
Published Security Analysis (1st ed., with David Dodd)
Co‑authored Security Analysis, a foundational 750‑page work that formalized value investing and security analysis.
Established Graham–Newman Fund (mutual fund) operations
Transitioned partnership activities into a fund structure (Graham–Newman fund operations noted to begin in mid‑1930s).
Published 'Storage and Stability' and 'The Interpretation of Financial Statements'
Authored books expanding his work on commodity reserves and the reading of company financial statements.
Published critique on commodity-reserve currency
Published 'The Critique of Commodity‑Reserve Currency' (a point‑by‑point reply) — part of his monetary theory contributions.
Published 'World Commodities and World Currency'
Book proposing an alternative basis for U.S. and global currency (Graham regarded his currency theory highly).
Graham–Newman purchased 50% interest in GEICO
Graham–Newman bought a 50% stake in GEICO for $712,500 — later became one of his largest gains.
SEC ordered distribution of GEICO shares to fund investors
To comply with a regulatory limit, Graham–Newman was ordered to distribute its GEICO stock to the fund's shareholders.
Published The Intelligent Investor (1st ed.)
Released The Intelligent Investor, popularizing concepts like 'margin of safety' and 'Mr. Market' for a broad investing audience.
Security Analysis (3rd ed.) and ongoing academic influence
Security Analysis saw additional editions and Graham's Columbia courses continued to attract future prominent investors.
Experienced family tragedy (personal turning point)
A serious family tragedy after his 60th birthday reportedly prompted introspection and life changes.
Warren Buffett joined Graham–Newman (student to employee)
Warren Buffett, a Columbia student of Graham, worked at Graham–Newman after graduation; Buffett credits Graham as a primary mentor.
Closed Graham–Newman and retired from active investing
Graham closed Graham–Newman Corp. and retired from active investment management; thereafter focused on teaching and writing.
Began teaching at UCLA Anderson School of Management (without pay)
Moved to California and taught security analysis at UCLA's business school starting in 1956 (reported to be unpaid).
Published research papers on equity accumulation and investment aspects
Published papers such as 'Some Investment Aspects of Accumulation Through Equities' in The Journal of Finance (1962).
Delivered speech 'Securities in an Insecure World'
Noted speech on securities delivered on 15 November 1963, reflecting his ongoing thought leadership.
Revised editions / ongoing reprints of The Intelligent Investor
The Intelligent Investor continued to be revised and reprinted; it remained a core text for value investors and students.
GEICO rescued (same year as his death) — legacy event
In 1976 GEICO was saved from near collapse by John J. Byrne and later became a major asset for investors; Graham's earlier GEICO investment was an historic win for his fund's investors.
Died in Aix‑en‑Provence, France
Benjamin Graham died September 21, 1976, at age 82; left a lasting legacy through students and publications.
GEICO acquired by Berkshire Hathaway (posthumous legacy)
GEICO—originally a major Graham–Newman investment—was acquired in whole by Berkshire Hathaway in 1996; a posthumous confirmation of the quality of the original investment thesis.
Memoirs published (posthumous edition)
Benjamin Graham: The Memoirs of the Dean of Wall Street (edited and published, 1996) — brought his life story to new readers.
Enduring recognition: Buffett preface to The Intelligent Investor (4th ed.)
Warren Buffett wrote a prominent preface and endorsement for later editions, underscoring Graham's lasting influence.
Security Analysis reprints and continued influence
Security Analysis continued to be reprinted (2008 edition cited) and taught widely; formalized Graham's place as 'father of value investing.'
Graham & Dodd Award and profession-building legacy noted
The Graham–Dodd legacy and awards (Financial Analysts Journal) formalize his influence on the profession of security analysis.
Key Achievement Ages
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Ben Graham
Born 1894 · Age 132
British-born American financial analyst, economist, accountant, investor and professor; called the 'father of value investing'. Author of Security Analysis (1934) and The Intelligent Investor (1949). Mentor to Warren Buffett.