Peter Cooper
Peter Cooper
Born	February 12, 1791 New York, New York, USA
Died	April 4, 1883
Occupation	Industrialist, Inventor, Philanthropist
Spouse	Sarah Cooper

Peter Cooper (February 12, 1791 – April 4, 1883) was an American industrialist, inventor, philanthropist, and candidate for President of the United States. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (575x762, 122 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Peter Cooper ... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1791 (MDCCXCI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 11-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Midtown Manhattan, looking north from the Empire State Building, 2005 New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the most populous city in the state of New York and the entire United States. ... April 4 is the 94th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (95th in leap years). ... 1883 (MDCCCLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Business magnate. ... For other uses, see Inventor (disambiguation). ... A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, or reputation to a charitable cause. ... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1791 (MDCCXCI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 11-day-slower Julian calendar). ... April 4 is the 94th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (95th in leap years). ... 1883 (MDCCCLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Business magnate. ... For other uses, see Inventor (disambiguation). ... A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, or reputation to a charitable cause. ... The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. ...

History

Cooper was born in New York City, the son of Dutch descendents. He had little formal schooling and worked in the family trade of hatmaking. He then worked as a coachmaker's apprentice, cabinet maker, grocer and was involved in the manufacturing and selling of cloth-shearing machines. He designed and built the first locomotive in the United States, the Tom Thumb. New York, NY redirects here. ... The Descendents are a punk rock band from southern California, formed in 1978 by guitarist Frank Navetta, bassist Tony Lombardo and drummer Bill Stevenson. ... Hatmaking is the art and trade of making hats. ... If youre looking for the TV show, see The Apprentice. ... Cabinet making is the practice of utilizing many woodworking skills to create cabinets, shelving and furniture. ... A grocer is a dealer in staple foodstuffs, such as meats, produce or dairy products, and other household supplies. ... Manufacturing, a branch of industry, is the application of tools and a processing medium to the transformation of raw materials into finished goods for sale. ... Tom Thumb was the first American-built steam locomotive used on a common-carrier railroad. ...

In 2006, he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. The National Inventors Hall of Fame is an organization that honors important inventors from the United States. ...

Industry

Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. Original Building

In about 1828, he started a successful glue and isinglass factory, before building the Canton Iron Works near Baltimore in 1830. There he manufactured the first steam powered railroad locomotive made in America, which was called Tom Thumb. The engine ran successfully on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad on August 28, 1830. Original Cooper Union Building in New York City, built by Peter Cooper around 1858. ... Original Cooper Union Building in New York City, built by Peter Cooper around 1858. ... Isinglass is a substance obtained from the swimbladders of fish (especially Beluga sturgeon), used mainly for the clarification of wine and beer. ... Nickname: Motto: The Greatest City in America,[3] Get in on it. ... A steam engine is a heat engine that makes use of the potential energy that exists as pressure in steam, converting it to mechanical work. ... This is the top-level page of WikiProject trains Rail tracks Rail transport refers to the land transport of passengers and goods along railways or railroads. ... Great Western Railway No. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... Tom Thumb was the first American-built steam locomotive used on a common-carrier railroad. ... 1876 map The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) is one of the oldest railroads in the United States, with an original line from the port of Baltimore, Maryland, west to the Ohio River at Wheeling and Parkersburg, West Virginia. ... August 28 is the 240th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (241st in leap years), with 125 days remaining. ... Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix commemorates the July Revolution 1830 (MDCCCXXX) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

He then erected a rolling mill and an iron mill in New York City, where he was the first to successfully use anthracite coal to puddle iron. In 1845, he moved his machinery to Trenton, New Jersey where he built the largest rolling-mill in the United States for producing railroad iron. There, in 1854 he oversaw the production of the first structural wrought iron beams. New York, NY redirects here. ... Anthracite coal Anthracite (Greek Ανθρακίτης, literally a form of coal, from Anthrax [Άνθραξ], coal) is a hard, compact variety of mineral coal that has a high luster. ... Puddle iron is a type of wrought iron. ... Nickname: Trent, T-Town Location of Trenton inside of Mercer County Coordinates: Country United States State New Jersey County Mercer County Founded circa 1719 Mayor Douglas H. Palmer Area    - City 21. ... A wrought iron railing in Troy, New York. ...

Politics

An 1879 Puck cartoon shows Cooper spanking his poor son Mayor Edward Cooper.

In 1840, he became an alderman in New York City. As a prosperous businessman, he conceived of the idea of having a free institute in New York, similar to the Polytechnic Institute in Paris. He erected a building and endowed art schools, spending between $600,000 and $700,000, for preparing young men and women of the working classes for business. In 1858 he presented the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art to the City of New York. Image File history File links Pet-Ed_Cooper. ... Image File history File links Pet-Ed_Cooper. ... 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Puck was a U.S. periodical published in New York from 1876 to 1918, originally in German and from 1877 in English as well. ... For a list of the Dutch Director-Generals who governed New Amsterdam (as New York City was called when it was a Dutch-run settlement) between 1624 and 1664, see: Director-General of New Netherland. ... Edward Cooper was the mayor of New York City from 1889 to 1890, serving as a democrat. ... An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions. ... The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, established in 1859, is a privately funded college in the Lower Manhattan district of New York City. ...

Engraving of Peter Cooper

In 1854, Cooper was one of five men who met at the house of Cyrus West Field and formed the New York, Newfoundland and London Telegraph Company. He was among those supervising the laying of the first Transatlantic telegraph cable in 1858. He also patented the first gelatin dessert, which later became better known by the brand name Jell-O. Portrait of Peter Cooper, from the May 30, 1861 issue of Harpers Weekly Magazine. ... Portrait of Peter Cooper, from the May 30, 1861 issue of Harpers Weekly Magazine. ... Cyrus West Field Cyrus West Field c. ... The New York, Newfoundland and London Telegraph Company was a company in a series of conglomerations of several companies that eventually layed the first Trans-Atlantic cable. ... The first Transatlantic telegraph cable was a telegraph cable that crossed the Atlantic Ocean from Valentia Island, in western Ireland to Trinity Bay, in eastern Newfoundland. ... JELL-O is a brand name belonging to USA-based Kraft Foods for a number of gelatin desserts, including fruit gels, puddings and no-bake cream pies. ...

Prior to the Civil War, Cooper was active in the anti-slavery movement and promoted the application of Christian concepts to solve social injustice. He was a strong supporter of the Union cause during the American Civil War and an advocate of the government issue of paper money. This English poster depicting the horrific conditions on slave ships was influential in mobilizing public opinion against slavery. ... In this map:  Union states prohibiting slavery  Union territories  Border states on the Union side which allowed slavery  Kansas, which entered and fought with the Union as a free state after the Bleeding Kansas crisis  The Confederacy  Confederate claimed and sometimes held territories During the American Civil War, the Union...

Influenced by the writings of Lydia Child, Cooper became involved in the Indian reform movement, organizing the privately funded United States Indian Commission. This organization, whose members included William E. Dodge and Henry Ward Beecher, was dedicated to the protection and elevation of Native Americans in the United States and the elimination of warfare in the western territories. Cooper's efforts led to the formation of the Board of Indian Commissioners, which oversaw Ulysses S. Grant's Peace Policy. Between 1870 and 1875, Cooper sponsored Indian delegations to Washington D.C., New York City, and other Eastern cities. These delegations met with Indian rights advocates and addressed the public on United States Indian policy. Speakers included: Red Cloud, Little Raven and Alfred B. Meacham and a delegation of Modoc and Klamath Indians. Lydia Child Lydia Maria Child (February 11, 1802 – July 7, 1880 in Wayland, Massachusetts) was an American abolitionist, womens rights activist, opponent of American expansionism, Indian rights activist, novelist, and journalist. ... William Earl Dodge (1805-1883), was a New York businessman, referred to as one of the Merchant Princes of Wall Street in the years leading up to the Civil War. ... This article or section needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ... Ulysses S. Grant[2] (born Hiram Ulysses Grant, April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885) was an American general and the 18th President of the United States (1869–1877). ... Red Cloud Red Cloud Red Cloud (Lakota: Makhpyia-luta), (1822 – December 10, 1909) was a war leader of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux). ... Binomial name Corvus mellori Mathews, 1912 The Little Raven (Corvus mellori) was only separated in 1967 from the Australian Raven () as a distinct species. ... Alfred B. Meacham (1826 - 1882) was an American reformer and historian who served as Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the state of Oregon. ... For other uses, see Modoc (disambiguation). ... This article is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

Presidential candidacy

Monument to Peter Cooper in front of Cooper Union

Cooper was encouraged to run in the 1876 presidential election for the Greenback Party without any hope of being elected. His running mate was Samuel Cary. The campaign cost more than $25,000. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (768x1024, 359 KB) The monument to Peter Cooper, the founder of the Cooper Union College. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (768x1024, 359 KB) The monument to Peter Cooper, the founder of the Cooper Union College. ... Presidential electoral votes by state. ... The Greenback Party (Greenback-Labor Party) was an American political party that was active between 1874 and 1884. ... Samuel Fenton Cary, Sr. ... ISO 4217 Code USD User(s) the United States, the British Indian Ocean Territory,[1] the British Virgin Islands, Cambodia, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Panama, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the insular areas of the United States Inflation 2. ...

The election was won by Rutherford Birchard Hayes of the Republican Party. Cooper was surpassed by another unsuccessful candidate: Samuel Jones Tilden of the Democratic Party. Rutherford Birchard Hayes (October 4, 1822 - January 17, 1893) was the 19th (1877-1881) President of the United States. ... The Republican Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States of America, along with the Democratic Party. ... Samuel Jones Tilden (February 9, 1814 - August 4, 1886) was the Democratic candidate for the US presidency in the disputed election of 1876, the most controversial American election of the 19th century. ... This article does not adequately cite its references. ...

Death

Peter Cooper died on April 4, 1883. He is buried in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, NY. The Chapel at Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn NY Green-Wood Cemetery was founded in 1838 as a rural cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, it was granted National Historic Landmark status in 2006 by the U.S. Department of the Interior. ...

Trivia

• In 1845 Cooper was awarded a patent for a gelatin dessert. In 1897, Pearl B. Wait began marketing Jell-O.
• In 1943, a United States Liberty ship named the SS Peter Cooper was launched. It was renamed the SS Samarkand after being loaned to the British. In 1971, the ship was scrapped.
• His son, Edward Cooper, was Mayor of New York City from 1879 to 1880.
• New York's Peter Cooper Village was named in his honor.
• Cooper learned finance under Albert Gallatin, who was Secretary of the Treasury from 1801-14. He was also Vice-President of the New York Board of Currency for a while. As a result, Cooper wrote much about financial topics. One of his more interesting assertions was in his 1883 book Ideas for a Science of Good Government, in which he claimed that the prime cause of the American Revolution was Parliament's outlawing of the Colonial Scrip currency in 1764, which caused an economic depression by outlawing the medium of exchange and created widespread dissatisfaction. Cooper writes:

After Franklin had explained…to the British Government as the real cause of prosperity, they immediately passed laws, forbidding the payment of taxes in that money. This produced such great inconvenience and misery to the people, that it was the principal cause of the Revolution. A far greater reason for a general uprising, than the Tea and Stamp Act, was the taking away of the paper money.[1] 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... The Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. They were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. ... The SS Samarkand (Hull Number 1769, launched as the SS Peter Cooper) was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. Originally named after Peter Cooper, an American industrialist, inventor and philanthropist, the ship was laid down by Alabama Drydock & Shipbuilding Company on July 24, 1943... Edward Cooper was the mayor of New York City from 1889 to 1890, serving as a democrat. ... For a list of the Dutch Director-Generals who governed New Amsterdam (as New York City was called when it was a Dutch-run settlement) between 1624 and 1664, see: Director-General of New Netherland. ... 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1880 (MDCCCLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar). ... Peter Cooper Village is a residential development on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. ... Abraham Alfonse Albert Gallatin (January 29, 1761 – August 12, 1849) was a Swiss-American ethnologist, linguist, politician, diplomat, Congressman, and the longest-serving United States Secretary of the Treasury. ... The United States Secretary of the Treasury is the finance minister of the Federal Government of the United States. ... John Trumbulls Declaration of Independence, showing the five-man committee in charge of drafting the Declaration in 1776 as it presents its work to the Second Continental Congress The American Revolution refers to the period during the last half of the 18th century in which the Thirteen Colonies that... Colonial Scrip was paper money issued by the colonies in the revolution/pre-revolution era. ...

External links

• Comprehensive Biography by Nathan C. Walker
• Facts About Peter Cooper and The Cooper Union
• Brief biography
• Find-A-Grave profile for Peter Cooper
• Ideas for a Science of Good Government Addresses, Letters and Articles by Peter Cooper
• Extensive Information about Peter Cooper
• Images of Peter Cooper's Autobiography
• Peter Cooper's Dictated Autobiography