George Whitfield Scranton

March 11, 1811 (age 50)

Madison, Connecticut, United States of America

He moved to Belvidere, New Jersey, in 1828 and became a teamster. From 1835 to 1839, Scranton was interested in agricultural pursuits and in the latter year engaged in the manufacture of iron, and began experimenting with the practicability of smelting ore by means of anthracite coal in Slocum (now Scranton, Pennsylvania). He projected and constructed the Northumberland division of the Lackawanna Railroad. He was the president of two railroad companies. Politics He was elected to congress as a Republican in 1858 to the 36th Congress and served from March 4, 1859, until his death in Scranton on March 24, 1861.

George Whitfield Scranton

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United States representative politician

Background

George Scranton was born in Madison, Connecticut.

Education

He attended Lee’s Academy.

Career

He moved to Belvidere, New Jersey, in 1828 and became a teamster. From 1835 to 1839, Scranton was interested in agricultural pursuits and in the latter year engaged in the manufacture of iron, and began experimenting with the practicability of smelting ore by means of anthracite coal in Slocum (now Scranton, Pennsylvania). He projected and constructed the Northumberland division of the Lackawanna Railroad.

He was the president of two railroad companies.

Politics

He was elected to congress as a Republican in 1858 to the 36th Congress and served from March 4, 1859, until his death in Scranton on March 24, 1861.

Achievements

He was the founder of the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company and the city of Scranton.

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