David Merle Corcoran
David Merle Corcoran (1904-1990) was an Irish-American business man who served as the president of Sterling Drug's international division for 40 years and, in collaboration with his brother Thomas Gardiner Corcoran, played a key role in the Allied war effort in Asia during World War II.
Early life and education
Corcoran was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. His father had attended Brown University where he was the president of his graduating class, and later became a registered patent lawyer and the president of the Rhode Island Bar Association. [1][2] Corcoran was class president at Pawtucket High School and matriculated to Princeton University where he was a member of the Tower Club. He graduated with the class of 1925. His brother Howard Francis Corcoran attended Princeton as well, and went on to be a Federal District Judge for the District of Columbia .[3]
David went on to graduate from Harvard Business School in 1927.
Career
After Harvard Business School, Corcoran worked in sales at the Asiatic Selling Company [4] before joining General Motors in their Osaka office. He shortly transferred to be the manager of the Tokyo office.[5] After the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931, Corcoran resigned.[6]
His experience in Asia led his brother Tommy to ask him to be the President of the Chinese Defense Supply corporation that coordinated efforts to support the Chinese during Japanese occupation.[7] Subsequently, he and Tommy worked with General Claire Chennault to establish the American Volunteer Group - popularly known as the Flying Tigers - to fly supplies from India to China during World War II. [8][9]
Death
David Corcoran died at the age of 86 in Waterville Valley, NH. [10]
- ↑ "IN THE MATTER OF THE REGISTERED TRADE MARK "ZONOPHONE."". Reports of Patent, Design and Trade Mark Cases. 20 (17): 450–453. 1903-06-24. doi:10.1093/rpc/20.17.450. ISSN 0080-1364.
- ↑ Times, Special to The New York (1959-08-25). "THOMAS P. CORCORAN, 88; Rhode Is/and Lawyer Dies Father of Roosevelt Aide". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-04-08.
- ↑ "David Merle Corcoran '25 | Princeton Alumni Weekly". paw.princeton.edu. Retrieved 2026-04-08.
- ↑ "Harvard Business School Alumni Bulletin". Bulletin. Cambridge, Mass.: The Association, 1925-1941. IV. 1927: November-1928: July: 40. 1928.
- ↑ "Harvard Business School Alumni Bulletin". Bulletin. Cambridge, Mass. : The Association, 1925-1941. VII. 1930:November-1931:July: 107. 1930.
- ↑ Carrozza, Anthony R. (2012). William D. Pawley: The Extraordinary Life of the Adventurer, Entrepreneur, and Diplomat who Cofounded the Flying Tigers. Potomac Books, Inc. ISBN 978-1-59797-719-7. Search this book on
- ↑ Cox, Alfred (April 1967). "CLANDESTINE SERVICES HISTORY: CIVIL AIR TRANSPORT (CAT) A PROPRIETARY AIRLINE" (PDF). CIA. pp. 63–64, 69.
- ↑ "David Corcoran, Flying Tigers Founder | The Seattle Times". archive.seattletimes.com. Retrieved 2026-04-09.
- ↑ "Harvard Business School Bulletin". Harvard Business School Bulletin. 66: Notes 2-3. 1990.
- ↑ Archives, L. A. Times (1990-06-17). "David Corcoran; Helped Organize Flying Tigers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2026-04-09.
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