Henry Wells (1805–78)

American expressman. Established Livingstone, Wells and Pomeroy’s, a mail service operating between Albany and Buffalo, in 1843. In 1844, established Wells & Company, operating between Buffalo and Detroit with William George Fargo as messenger. In 1850, the merger of Wells & Company with two other companies created the American Express Company of which Wells and Fargo were presidents, 1850–68. The American Express Company absorbed the Pacific Union Express Company in 1868. Wells retired as president in 1873.