The supporting cast
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Alexander Brownell Cullen "ABC" Hardy — Hardy was the former manager of a Durant buggy company. After a long trip to Europe, he returned to Flint extolling the potential of the horseless carriage. Durant cared nothing about automobiles, but Hardy piqued the interest of James Whiting, manager of rival Flint Wagon Works.
Benjamin and Frank Briscoe — The Briscoe brothers lent money to engine maker David Dunbar Buick. When Buick couldn't repay his debt, the Briscoes persuaded him to restructure as Buick Motor Co. so the company could be sold. Benjamin Briscoe was working with automaker Jonathan Maxwell at the time, and he wanted to unload Buick.
James Whiting — Influenced by Hardy, Whiting became fascinated by the automobile. After meeting with Benjamin Briscoe, Whiting agreed to have Flint Wagon Works buy Buick, and he moved Buick from Detroit to Flint, Mich.
Fred Aldrich — Aldrich was the secretary of Durant-Dort Carriage Co. He advised Whiting to involve Durant in managing the faltering Buick after the acquisition proved to be a money pit. Durant had been living in New York and playing the stock market.
George Perkins — Perkins was a backer of the Maxwell-Briscoe automotive venture and a partner in J.P. Morgan & Co. He wanted to arrange a big automotive merger. Benjamin Briscoe notified Durant, suggesting they call together the heads of 20 leading auto companies. Durant suggested they limit the meeting to leaders of Buick, Maxwell-Briscoe, Ford Motor Co. and Reo Motor Car Co. Perkins suggested that the venture be called International Motor Car Co.
Herbert Satterlee — Satterlee was a J.P. Morgan lawyer who handled the merger discussions. After J.P. Morgan lost interest in the consolidation, Satterlee continued to work with Durant. Because Perkins wanted rights to the name International Motor Car Co., Satterlee and his law partners suggested one of Durant's alternative names: General Motors Co. (later General Motors Corp.).
You can reach Leslie J. Allen at lallen@crain.com. -- Follow Leslie on 
