James Laughlin

Background

He was born March 1, 1806 near Portaferry in County Down.

Career

Laughlin died on December 18, 1882. The company was renamed Jones and Laughlin in 1861, later reorganized as J&L Steel. In 1844, Laughlin was appointed as a corporator to the board responsible for establishing the Allegheny Cemetery.

In 1852, Laughlin and his associates, including B.F. Jones, founded a banking organization that, when chartered, was the First National Bank of Pittsburgh, later Pittsburgh National Bank.

Laughlin was the first president of the Western Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh.

Achievements

• He was a founder of the Pennsylvania Female College, which later became Chatham University.

Connections

partnership:

Bernard Lauth