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George Fabyan

George Fabyan

Male 1867 - 1936  (69 years)  Submit Photo / DocumentSubmit Photo / Document


Personal Information    |    Media    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name George Fabyan 
    Nickname Colonel 
    Born 15 Mar 1867  Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Occupation 1884 
    At the age of 17 George left home prompting his father to disinherit him. Several years later, using an assumed name, he obtained a job at a warehouse owned by the Bliss-Fabyan Corporation. This was the largest cotton goods organization in the world.

    Because of the quality of his work his supervisor introduced him to the head of the company, his father, who accepted him back into the family. He put George in charge of the warehouse. He did quite well for himself and ultimately inherited his father's wealth.  
    Military Service 1901 
    Illinois Governor Richard Yates appointed George Fabyan to his military guard in 1901 and, gave him the honorary title of Colonel.

    In 1992 the National Security Agency recognized George's Riverbank Laboratories as the birthplace of U.S. cryptology. They honored Fabyan him with a plaque reading "To the Memory of George Fabyan From a Grateful Government: In recognition of the voluntary and confidential service rendered by Colonel Fabyan and his Riverbank Laboratories in the sensitive areas of cryptanalysis and cryptologic training during a critical time of national need on the eve of America's entry into World War I." 
    Fayban Check.
    Fayban Check.
    It has been suggested that Fayban's work for the government was partially compensated. Four checks have been found from Major General Joseph Mauborgne, Chief Signal Officer to Fayban.The checks are now in the National Cryptologic Museum. The total of these checks are $145.00. Fayban probably spent tens of thousands of dollars researching and training military personnel on behalf of the government. Compensation for this probably isn't the best explanation for these checks.
    Biographical Information 1905 
    The Fayban Estate 
    Fabyan Estate
    Fabyan Estate (14)
    The estate of Colonel George and Nellie (nee Wright) Fayban. Nelle was widowed when she died of cancer in 1939. The heirs sold the estate to Kane county, Illinois for $70,500; it is now part of the Kane County Forest Preserve District and known as Fayban Forest Preserve.
    Biographical Information 1913 
    George was a believer in the "Baconian Theory". Popular at the time it attributed authorship of William Shakespeare's plays to Sir Francis Bacon.

    He established the first privately owned research facility which became known as Riverbank Laboratories. he put together a cryptologic research staff that was engaged in trying to find codes within the plays that, would prove the theory correct. This research cost him millions of dollars. 
    Bacon-Shakespeare cypher.
    Bacon-Shakespeare cypher.
    A page from "king Henry the Fourth" in which attempts were made to find a hidden code.
    World of the Ultra Audible.
    World of the Ultra Audible.
    The Tamaroa (Illinois) Times, Friday, August 8, 1924.

    Beyond trying to decode Shakespeare Fabyan's research center performed audio research. This research was so important that Riverbank Laboratories survives today as a highly respected source of independent acoustical materials testing.
    Riverbank Laboratory.
    Riverbank Laboratory.
    During World War I Fabyan's cryptographers broke German codes and foiled terrorist plots. More importantly they trained personnel who would staff the newly formed Cipher Bureau within Military Intelligence.

    Knowledge is Power
    Knowledge is Power
    The graduation photo for one of Fabyan's military cryptology classes. George is front, left. While at first glance it appears to be a normal group photo closer examination reveals that some of the individuals are facing different directions. The photo is a cryptograph that spells out "Knowledge is power", a quote commonly attributed to Sir Francis Bacon.
    Census 1920 
    1920 Fabyan A.
    1920 Fabyan A.
    1920 US census, Geneva, Kane, Illinois, enumeration district 96, Family Number 93, Fabyan. This entry spans two sheets.
    1920 Fabyan B.
    1920 Fabyan B.
    1920 US census, Geneva, Kane, Illinois, enumeration district 96, Family Number 93, Fabyan. This entry spans two pages.
    Census 1930 
    1930 Fabyan.
    1930 Fabyan.
    1930 US census, Geneva, Kane, Illinois, enumeration district 45-82, Family Number 76, Fabyan.
    Died 17 May 1936  Geneva, Kane, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Col Fabyan Obituary.
    Col Fabyan Obituary.
    The Decatur (Illinois) Herald, Monday, May 18, 1936 page one.
    Buried
    George Fabyan Memorial.
    George Fabyan Memorial.
    George Fabyan Memorial.
    George Fayan Memorial Inscription.
    George Fayan Memorial Inscription.
    George Fayan Memorial Inscription.
    George Fabyan Headstone.
    George Fabyan Headstone.
    George Fabyan Headstone.
    Person ID I60020  Nagel
    Last Modified 28 Jul 2021 

    Family Nellie May Wright,   b. 19 Nov 1866, Marinette, Marinette, Wisconsin Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 22 Jul 1939, Geneva, Kane, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 72 years) 
    Married 18 Mar 1891  Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Fabyan-Wright Marriage.
    Fabyan-Wright Marriage.
    Fabyan-Wright Marriage.
    Last Modified 27 Jul 2021 
    Family ID F17924  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart