David T. Abercrombie

Abercrombie & Fitch Co.

On June 4, 1892, he founded Abercrombie Co. as a small waterfront shop at No.36 South Street in downtown Manhattan, New York;

On April 25, 1896, Abercrombie married Lucy Abbot Cate in Baltimore. The couple had four children: Elizabeth, Lucy, David, and Abbott. The Abercrombie family lived in Newark, New Jersey, for some years and maintained a log cabin getaway on Pine Island on Greenwood Lake, New Jersey. Later they lived in Brooklyn, New York City, and finally in Ossining, New York.

In 1900, wealthy New York lawyer Ezra Fitch, a regular customer of Abercrombie's, bought into the successfully growing Abercrombie retail establishment. In 1904, it was incorporated and renamed "Abercrombie & Fitch Co." Abercrombie later entered into disputes with Ezra Fitch over Fitch's visions of expanding the company to appeal to the general public, as Abercrombie sought to maintain the company's standing as an elite store for the elite outdoorsman. Possibly as a result of this rift, Abercrombie left the Company in 1907, selling his share of it to Fitch.

Birth, studies, and family

David T. Abercrombie was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on June 6, 1867, to John and Elizabeth Sarah Abercrombie (née Daniel). John owned and managed a local Baltimore iron works. David was of Scottish descent: his father John was born in Scotland as was his maternal grandfather. He had four children: Elizabeth, born 1897; Lucy, born 1899; David, born 1901; and Abbott, born 1909. He was educated in the public schools of Baltimore and by private instructors. Abercrombie later came to study at Baltimore City College and became a practicing civil engineer, topographer, and explorer, rising to the position of Chief of Survey for Norfolk & Western Railroad, notably mapping out uncharted wilderness areas in the coal and timber lands of West Virginia and the Carolinas.

While surveying the wilderness areas, Abercrombie came to realize that the gear, both clothing and equipment, was wholly inadequate to withstand the rigorous demands. He started designing his own gear which was more rugged and versatile, and better designed to meet the wilderness environment.