Founder Profile
Edward C. Johnson II
Last reviewed: October 2026 · By Swet Parvadiya
Who is Edward C. Johnson II?
Edward C. Johnson II is a founder of Fidelity Investments, which was founded in 1946.
- Company founded
- Fidelity Investments
- Founded
- 1946
Background
Johnson was a Harvard-educated Boston lawyer who worked with trusts and family wealth before moving into fund management.
Founding Story
Edward C. Johnson II (1898-1984) founded Fidelity Management & Research in Boston in 1946 after taking over management of the Fidelity Fund in 1943. He favored research-driven equity investing aimed at growth rather than only capital preservation, and he let individual fund managers make independent decisions. His son Ned Johnson and granddaughter Abigail Johnson later led the firm.
Edward Crosby Johnson II was born on January 19, 1898 and died on April 2, 1984. Edward C. Johnson II was born in 1898.