COOPER, PETER ( 1791-1883 ) . An Ameri can inventor, manufacturer, and philanthropist, born in New York City. He assisted his father in his successive occupations of hatter, brewer, and brick-maker: gained such education as his limited means allowed, and from 1808 to 1812 was apprenticed to a carriage-builder. 11e in vented a machine for shearing cloth, which was used during the War of 1812-15; then manufac tured cabinet-ware; was for a time a grocer, and finally established a glue and isinglass fac tory on Long Island, continuing the business for more than fifty years and acquiring great wealth. In 1828 he built large iron-works in Baltimore, and afterwards a rolling and wire mill in Yew York. and blast-furnaces in Pennsylvania. In 1830 he designed and built the first American locomotive engine. a rude little contrivance, which he exhibited on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and about 1845 made at Trenton the first rolled-iron beams for building pur poses. He was among the earliest to pro mote the laying of the Atlantic cable, and for eighteen years was president of the New York, Newfoundland. and London Telegraph Company.
He invented a method of propelling canal-boats by an endless chain. which, while not adopted at the time, was used later on the Delaware and Raritan Canal. Mr. Cooper served in both branches of the New York Common Council and as a trustee in the Public School Society, an or ganization formed to advance the cause of public education. Upon the union of that body with the Board of Education he became a school commis sioner. In 1876 he received the Independent nomination for President. Peter Cooper engaged in many forms of mercantile life and was suc cessful in all. In gratitude for his success and wishing to afford others opportunities which he himself had never enjoyed, he established in 1853 the 'Cooper Union' (q.v.) in New York City. Consult Carter, "Life of Peter Cooper," in Cen tury AIagazine (New York, 1883-S4).