WANAMAKER, JOHN (1838-1922), American dry goods merchant, was born in Philadelphia (Pa.), on July 11, 1838. He attended a public school in that city until he was 14, when he be came an errand boy for a book store. He was a retail clothing salesman from 1856 until 1861, when he established with Nathan Brown (who afterwards became his brother-in-law) the clothing house of Wanamaker and Brown, in Philadelphia, the partnership continuing until the death of Brown in 1868. In 1869 Wanamaker founded the house of John Wanamaker & Co. In 1875 he bought the Pennsylvania Railroad company's freight depot at 13th and Market streets, and in the following year opened it as a dry goods and clothing store. In Sept. 1896 he acquired the former New York store of A. T. Stewart, of which his partner, R. C. Ogden,
had the management. This and the Philadelphia store are among the largest department stores in the United States. Wana maker was postmaster-general in President Benjamin Harrison's cabinet in 1889-93, and brought about the establishment of post offices on ocean-going vessels. He died in Philadelphia on Dec. 12, 1922. Wanamaker early identified himself with religious works in Philadelphia ; was the first paid secretary, in 1857-61, of that city's Young Men's Christian Association, of which he was presi dent in 187o-83, and in 1858 founded, and thereafter served as superintendent of, the Bethany (Presbyterian) Sunday school. He took an active part in the movement which resulted in the formation of the U.S. Christian commission in 1861.