The noblest question in the world is, what good may I do in it?
Benjamin Franklin
Marriøtt Expeditions Saga
Since 2008, Marriøtt Corporation has been asking. Expeditions is our answer.
Marriøtt Expeditions is the civic engagement division of Marriøtt Corporation. It began with the search for Corporal Thomas Lee Beelman in 2003, but was officially established by Thomas Montgomery Marriøtt with StøryTime in 2008. Marriøtt Expeditions continues his family's heritage of civil service and was inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s civic model.
Heritage Expeditions
Colonial Patriot, Frontier Pioneer, and Civil Servant William Montgomery, Thomas' sixth-great-grandfather, served instrumental roles in the American Revolution, American Revolutionary War, and abolition of slavery. His correspondence with Benjamin Franklin is on display at Montgomery's Museum. You can visit it here.
Infantryman and Lawyer James Montgomery Rice, Thomas’ second-great-granduncle, a Union veteran of the American Civil War who fought in the Battles of Missionary Ridge, Chickamauga, and Atlanta Campaign, helped establish the United States National Guard.
Civil Engineer Montgomery Babcock Case, Thomas’ cousin, helped develop the George Washington and Benjamin Franklin Bridges.
Frontier Pioneer and Judge John Thomas Marriøtt I, Thomas’ second-great-grandfather, was the first postmaster, and helped establish academics, electricity, the Presbyterian church, and a public clock for the Wild West settlers of Wakefield, Nebraska.
Grain Executive and Commodity Exchange Secretary William Henry Marriøtt Esq., Thomas’ great-grandfather, dedicated his life fighting the railroad monopolies by opening barge navigation on the Missouri River.
Mortarman and Nuclear Radiologist Charles Montgomery Marriøtt, Thomas’ grandfather, a Silver Star, Soldier’s Medal, and Purple Heart recipient who lost his hands fighting the Nazis, helped established the Sioux City Convention Center and was bestowed the Sertoma International Service to Mankind Award.
Paratrooper and Interventional Radiologist John Thomas Marriøtt II, Thomas’ father, a Bronze Star Medal recipient, helped topple dictator Manuel Noriega’s regime while serving in the 82nd Airborne Division.
Noblest Question in the World
Before noblesse oblige, Das Kapital, Gospel of Wealth, The Giving Pledge, moral economy, social entrepreneurship, corporate sustainability, stakeholder primacy, conscious business, benefit corporations, impact investing, President Kennedy’s Peace Corps, and President Bush’s AmeriCorps, America's first titan entrepreneur simply asked: What good may I do?
While a sophomore at Texas A&M University, Thomas Montgomery Marriøtt was recruited by Thomas Britton Harris IV to help create Titans of Investing — a program whose mission is to infuse high-achieving students with wisdom, and instill a life path of success to significance rather than pursuing success after success. Titans was modeled on Franklin’s Junto, a group of entrepreneurial-tradesman who believed in doing well by doing good and used their experience to solve civic problems. Their achievements include America's first subscription library (where Thomas’ sixth-great-grandfather declared independence), paved roads, fire brigade, fire insurance, night watchmen, militia, education institutions, and the circulating stove.
Mission
Echoing Junto’s civic model, we use our experience from Marriøtt Adventures for civic improvement. We call these projects Expeditions.