Peter Baldwin

Peter Baldwin

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/98900525/peter_baldwin

Son of Joseph Clark Baldwin, Jr. and Fanny Taylor.

Married, first, Nora Borden, 1 Jul 1931 in Bedford, New York (divorced 12 Jun 1935; one daughter); m. second, Mary B. "Polly" Potter, Apr 1936 in Augusta, GA (divorced 3 June 1943, two daughters); married, third, Alice B. Raynor, 22 Jun 1943; married fourth, Myrtle Antoinette Stuart; three sons.

First American private businessman in Afghanistan.

Peter Baldwin, a pioneer in the agricultural and industrial development of Afghanistan, died in Kabul, December 30, 1968. More than half his adult life was spent in Asia, beginning with World War II service as a major in the United States Air Force in India which led him to break away from the career as an odd-lot stockbroker which he had pursued for a dozen years before the war, on Wall Street. In 1945, he returned to India heading a United States mission for disposal of surplus aircraft; two years later he had founded in Bombay an Indian-American sales agency for small planes and airport equipment. By 1950, he had built up a non-scheduled airline, flying thirteen DC 3's all over India, the Middle East and Africa and including "Haj Flights" for transport of Moslem pilgrims to Mecca. In this manner he got his introduction to Afghanistan and when, in 1955, the Royal Afghan Government formed a partnership with him for the formation of Ariana Afghan Airlines, he became convinced he had a part to play in the country's future. He moved to Kabul in 1958, sold his interest in Ariana to Pan American Airlines, founded the Indamer Afghan Industries, Inc. and immersed himself in a variety of projects designed to develop Afghan agriculture. These filled the remaining years of his life and made a permanent contribution to the economy of Afghanistan.

Baldwin was born in Bedford, New York, September 30, 1906, the son of Joseph C. Baldwin, Jr. and Mrs. Baldwin. His career at St. Paul's School proved him a remarkable athlete, as well as a leader to whom his formmates were devoted. A born hockey player, he was a star of the Delphian and SPS teams for two years, captaining both in 1925 and leading the SPS to a memorably narrow 1-0 victory over the unbeaten Kent team-a game which gave rise to the report that Dr. Drury and Father Sill had wagered certain chapel fittings on the outcome. In addition, he played on the Delphian and SPS football teams and, in the spring of 1925, not only rowed on the second Halcyon crew but scored enough points in track events to give the Delphians victory at the Anniversary meet. Not surprisingly, he was the winner of the 1903 Hockey Medal and of the Gordon Medal. He attended Harvard for only two years, then entered the brokerage business in New York, first with Harriman & Co. and finally with DeCoppet & Doremus.

A warm, outgoing man with a strong sense of the ridiculous, he made friends wherever he went and retained to the end of his life his affection for them, his family and his School. He is survived by his wife, Myrtle S. Baldwin, and their three sons, Stuart, Taylor and James Baldwin; also by one son and four daughters of previous marriages, Peter Baldwin, Jr., Mrs. Paul Birdsall, Mrs. Joseph H. Williams, Mrs. Frank Bonsal and Miss Nina Baldwin; by several grandchildren; by his brothers, Alexander T. and Ian Baldwin, and by his sisters, Mrs. E. D. Morgan, Mrs. Robert Pease, Mrs. Phyllis Lutyens, Mrs. Baldwin Preston and Mrs. C. W. Gillespie. He was also the brother of the late Joseph C. Baldwin.