Charles E. Roberts

Who was Charles E. Roberts?

Charles E. Roberts was an engineer, inventor and an important early client and patron of Frank Lloyd Wright. In 1896, Wright remodeled Robert's house in Oak Park.

Charles E Roberts was born on March 13, 1843 near Rochester, New York., the son of David Roberts and his wife Elizabeth Whipple Roberts.

Roberts was an influential member of the building committee of Unity Temple in Oak Park, Illinois. For Roberts, Wright also developed a series of block plans from 1896 to 1903, notably several variations of the Quadruple Block Plan. For Roberts, Wright also designed the Charles E. Roberts Summer Home and five houses for Charles E. Roberts, Ridgeland, IL. Wright remodeled the Charles E. Roberts House and designed the Charles E. Roberts Stable in Oak Park.

Charles E. Roberts served as the President and Director of the Chicago Screw Company, President and Director of the Standard Screw Company and Vice President and Director of the Pearson Machine Company. Roberts invented a machine that could make the tops and bottoms of screws at the same time; he sold the business for a million dollars and devoted the remainder of his life to other inventions.