Who founded the FedEx corporation?

Frederick W. Smith founded FedEx Corporation. He established Federal Express in 1971, building a delivery company around the idea of moving urgent packages through a centralized air-and-ground network.

Smith developed the concept while studying at Yale University. His business plan proposed an integrated system modeled partly on a bank clearing house: shipments would be collected from different locations, routed through a central hub, and then redistributed efficiently. He used money from his inheritance and raised substantial venture capital to launch the company.

Federal Express began formal operations in 1973 from Memphis, Tennessee, serving 25 cities with a fleet of 14 Dassault Falcon 20 aircraft. Memphis became the company’s central hub because of its location, airport facilities, and generally favorable weather. The business later expanded internationally and adopted the FedEx name.

Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Sam Walton were influential American entrepreneurs, but none founded FedEx. Smith remained closely associated with the company for decades and later served as its executive chairman.