- William Thaw
William Thaw (
October 12 ,1818 -August 17 ,1889 ) was an American businessman who made his fortune in transportation and banking.Biography
Born in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , he launched a career as clerk in his father, John Thaw's (United States Bank of Philadelphia ) Pittsburgh branch, and soon switched toMcKee, Clark and Co. In 1841, William Thaw married Eliza Burd Blair. In 1842, he and his brother-in-law (Clarke) owned steam canal boats, particularly the Pennsylvania and Ohio line. Their company added canal, portage railroad and other steamboat lines.
With the rise of the railroad, William Thaw divested the canal business and invested in the new
Pennsylvania Company , which managed interests of thePennsylvania Railroad , in which he was a large shareholder.William Thaw also helped to establish the first international steamship line, the
Red Star Line , to which was later added theAmerican Line .William Thaw also founded the
East St. Louis and Interurban Water Company .Philanthropy
William Thaw endowed science fellowships at
Harvard University andPrinceton University and bestowed lavish gifts on art and education. He underwrote the building of theAllegheny Observatory forJohn Brashear , considered at the time one of the ten best in the world.Legacy
He is considered to have been one of the 100 wealthiest Americans, having left an enormous fortune. [http://www.scottwinslow.com/2002/wealthy.asp]
References
* [http://profilesintime.blogspot.com/2007/02/benjamin-thaw.html Biography of William Thaw]
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