Cooper, Peter

manu.acturer and philanthropist, was born in New York city February 12, 1791. He engaged in various commercial pursuits during early life, and in 1828 went to Baltimore and erected the Canton Iron Works, where, two years later, he constructed, from his own designs, the first locomotive engine ever built in the U.S. He subsequently returned to New York, where he built other iron works, and in 1845 erected several blast furnaces at Phillips burg, Pa. Mr. C. was later much interested in ocean cable lines, and was president of the New York, Now found land and London Telegraph Co. In all these ventures Mr. C. was succe ful, and he devoted his riches very largely to enterprises of a philanthropic character, chief among which was the founding of Cooper Institute, for the instruction of the industrial cla es, for which he erected the fine stone building at the junction of Third and Fourth avenues, New York. This institute comprises free schools of art, science, practical engineering, ., and has departments for women; has also a fine reading room and free library. Mr. C.'s devotion to the people and their interests led to his nomination for the Presi dency by the Independent Party in 1876, and he received nearly 100,000 votes. The degree of LL.D. was con ferred upou Mr. C. on the occasion of a reception held in honor of his 84th birthday; on his 90th birthday he gave the institute an additional fund of $10,000. Died in New York, April 4, 1883.