Background
James O'Hara was born in Ireland in 1752, the son of John O'Hara.
James O'Hara was born in Ireland in 1752, the son of John O'Hara.
James O'Hara was educated at the seminary of St. Sulpice in Paris, gave up the ensign's commission given him by his relative, Lord Tyrawley, and entered a ship-broker's office in Liverpool to learn business methods before sailing for America.
Upon receiving a legacy from a cousin, James O'Hara left England and settled in Philadelphia in 1772. The following year he entered the employ of Devereaux Smith and Ephraim Douglas of Pittsburgh in carrying on trade with the Indians. This work took him to the wilderness of western Virginia. Later he became a government agent among the Indians.
At the outbreak of the Revolution he volunteered as a private, later equipped a company of volunteers, and was elected captain. His company saw much service on the frontier at Kanawha and then, as part of the forces of George Rogers Clark, during the expedition to Vincennes. In 1779 all but twenty-nine of his company had been killed in action, and those survivors were thereupon placed under Daniel Brodhead's command. He was selected by the general to carry an important message to Washington asking for supplies. Later he became commissary at the general hospital and was stationed at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The years 1781-83 found him serving as the assistant-quartermaster for General Greene.
After the Revolution, O'Hara entered business and filled many large contracts for the government. In 1792, President Washington appointed him quartermaster of the United States army, and he served during the Whisky Rebellion and General Wayne's expedition against the Indians. He is credited with "saving the army" by his efficient business methods and remarkable understanding of the Indian character and varied dialects. Resigning in 1796, he again became a government contractor and continued in that capacity until 1802.
Sometime earlier O'Hara had formed a partnership with Major Isaac Craig, with whom he erected the first glassworks in Pittsburgh. To superintend the work he hired a German chemist, William Peter Eichbaum, with whom he journeyed from Philadelphia on foot. Their first successful product, the result of costly experimentation, was glass bottles, and their plant became famous. This plant was one of the first of its kind to use coal as fuel.
O'Hara next turned his attention to the salt industry. He found that salt was carried overland on pack horses from New York state and was therefore very expensive. He built boats for the purpose of transporting this important product more cheaply. On the outward trip he loaded the boats with flour, provisions, and other merchandise in salt barrels, which were reserved in his contracts and, when empty, were filled with salt for the return trip.
James O'Hara also built vessels to carry cotton to Liverpool and was one of the pioneers in this trade. His General Butler was captured by a Spanish vessel in 1807. He became a director and then president of the Pittsburgh branch of the Bank of Pennsylvania. He was interested in iron works at Ligonier in partnership with John Henry Hopkins. Having invested heavily in real estate in the rapidly growing town of Pittsburgh, he found himself "land poor" during the crisis of 1817 and was saved from bankruptcy by his friend, James Ross. Nevertheless, by the time of his death, two years later, he had cleared his estate of all debt. He was buried in the churchyard of the First Presbyterian Church, but his remains were subsequently moved to the Allegheny Cemetery.
James O'Hara together with Major Isaac Craig erected the first glassworks in Pittsburgh. Their plant was one of the first of its kind to use coal as fuel. O'Hara set up salt business, making transporting of this important product cheaper. James O'Hara was one of the pioneers in cotton trade. O'Hara also had a sawmill business, and with partner John Reed established Pittsburgh Point Brewery. He also invested in ship building and in John Henry Hopkin's Ligonier ironworks. He became president of the Bank of Pennsylvania.
James O'Hara was a member of the Federalist party.
In his home at Pittsburgh O'Hara placed some of the first carpets brought across the Alleghany Mountains, and it is said that the neighbors called them coverlets and were amazed to see them laid on the floor.
James O'Hara married Mary Carson of Philadelphia. They had six children.
