A. G. Edwards founded in St. Louis

Background. Albert Gallatin Edwards was born in Kentucky on October 15, 1812, to the politician Ninian Edwards, and was named after Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin. He served as Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of the Treasury under President Abraham Lincoln. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, he was stationed near St. Louis. In 1887 he founded the brokerage firm that bore his name.

Founding of the Firm. In 1887, Albert Gallatin Edwards and his son opened for business in St. Louis, establishing the brokerage house that would bear his name. The firm, known as A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., operated as a full-service securities broker-dealer in the United States and Europe. This event marked the transition from Edwards' government service to private financial enterprise.

Legacy and Lineage. The St. Louis brokerage house founded by Albert Gallatin Edwards remained in his family line: his great-grandson Benjamin Edwards III led the firm and was credited with building the St. Louis brokerage house founded by his great-grandfather into the largest United States brokerage company based outside New York. Albert Gallatin Edwards died on April 19, 1892.