Franklin Fairbanks

Franklin Fairbanks (June 18, 1828–April 24, 1895) was an American businessman, political figure, and one of the founders and first trustees of Rollins College. The president of Fairbanks Scales, he was also a philanthropist and a co-founder of the city of Winter Park, Florida.

The son of Erastus Fairbanks and brother of Horace Fairbanks, Franklin Fairbanks was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont in 1828.

At age 18, he entered Fairbanks Scales, the family scales manufacturing business. He became president of the company in 1888. Fairbanks was also an officer and director in a number of mining, manufacturing, banking, and telegraph businesses. He was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives and served as speaker from 1872 to 1874. During the Civil War Fairbanks served on the staffs of Governors Hiland Hall and Erastus Fairbanks with the rank of Colonel, responsible for raising, equipping and training troops and dispatching them to the front lines.

Fairbanks was a trustee of St. Johnsbury Academy. He donated the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium to the town of St. Johnsbury. With the museum came his collection of natural science specimens and related artifacts.

Fairbanks came to Winter Park, Florida in 1881 to 1882 with his friend and business associate, Charles H. Morse, who was also from St. Johnsbury. He was one of the first investors to purchase lakefront property. Fairbanks was one of the first trustees of Rollins College and contributed towards its founding.

He died in St. Johnsbury in 1895. His house in St. Johnsbury at 30 Western Avenue is on the list of the National Register of Historic Places.