Robert and John Pitcairn

£25.99

Robert and John Pitcairn

Titans of Rail, Oil and Glass

Biography: business and industry

Author: William R. Huber

Dinosaur mascot

Language: English

Published by: McFarland

Published on: 28th March 2025

Format: LCP-protected ePub

Size: 249 pages

ISBN: 9781476655086


Scottish immigrants John and Robert Pitcairn

Following their friend Andrew Carnegie, they worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad, transporting troops and supplies for the Union army during the Civil War. John co-founded the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company—eventually a key player in the U.S. glass industry—while Robert managed the Pittsburgh Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad through the aftermath of the 1889 Johnstown flood.

The history and legacy of the Pitcairn brothers

The history of the Pitcairn brothers parallels the evolution of American industry and transportation during and after the Civil War. This book provides a historical perspective on the 1877 railroad strike and other events that shaped the transportation industry and American industrialization. It also examines the spiritual and philanthropic impact of the Pitcairn brothers: Robert at the Shadyside Presbyterian Church near Pittsburgh and John at the Bryn Athyn religious community near Philadelphia. Today, the legacy of the Pitcairn brothers remains woven into the fabric of American industrialization, revealing the intricate connections among industry, transportation, and philanthropy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

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