Jack Welch - Fast Facts - CNN.com (CNN) -- Here is a look at former CEO of General Electric Jack Welch's life. Personal: Birth date: November 19, 1935 Birthplace: Peabody, Massachusetts Birth name: John Francis Welch, Jr. Father: John Francis Welch, Sr., a train conductor Mother: Grace Andrews Welch Marriages: Suzy Wetlaufer, journalist (April 24, 2004 - present); Jane Beasley, corporate lawyer (1989 -- 2002, divorced); Carolyn B. Osburn (1959 -- 1987, divorced) Children: with Carolyn: Katherine; John; Anne; Mark Education: University of Massachusetts, 1957, B.S. Chemical Engineering; University of Illinois, 1960, M.S., Ph.D. Chemical Engineering Other Facts: Head of Jack Welch, LLC, established in 2007 Media had given him the nickname "Neutron Jack" for his no-nonsense, take no prisoners approach to business. Wrote a weekly column in Business Week with his wife Suzy called "The Welch Way." Timeline: 1960 - Begins career at GE in the Chemical Development Organization as a chemical engineer. 1972 - He is appointed general manager of the worldwide plastics division and becomes a vice president. 1979 - Vice Chairman and Executive Officer. 1981 - He is appointed Chairman and CEO, the youngest CEO that General Electric Corporation (GE) has ever had. 1999 - Fortune magazine names Welch "Manager of the Century." September 2001- Steps down as GE Chairman and CEO and is replaced by Jeffrey Immelt. September 06, 2002 - Jack Welch is worth $900 million in stock and has a life insurance policy paid by the company and a pension plan that pays more than $9 million a year. July 3, 2003 - Announcement is made that his ex-wife Jane Beasley Welch will receive an undisclosed lump sum divorce settlement. April 13, 2007 -- Makes a failed attempt - with other investors - to buy the Boston Globe from New York Times Co. June 21, 2009 - Pays more than $2 million for 12% stake in Chancellor University System LLC which delivers online education. The MBA program will become the Jack Welch Management Institute. July 5, 2009 - Is hospitalized and later released after suffering a bacterial infection. November 2011 - Sells the Jack Welch Management Institute to Strayer University for $7 million. The sale is a 70-30 split with Chancellor University; Welch gets the 70%. October 9, 2012 - Welch and wife Suzy resign as Fortune magazine and Reuters' contributors after his controversial tweet regarding the Obama administration and September unemployment data was criticized by Fortune.