Peter Cooper Biography, Age, Weight, Height, Friend, Like, Affairs, Favourite, Birthdate & Other

Peter Cooper was an American industrialist and inventor who designed and built the first steam locomotive in the U.S. He was also the founder of the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in Manhattan, New York City. A multi-faceted personality, he also ran for the 1876 presidential election as a member of the Greenback Party.

The son of a Revolutionary War army officer, Cooper engaged himself in several trades as a young man; he had worked as a coach maker’s apprentice, cabinet maker, hatmaker, brewer and grocer. Being exposed to different trades provided him with valuable experiences that would help him later in his career as an industrialist.

A bright and curious youth, he loved tinkering and creating new gadgets. A cloth-shearing machine and an endless chain were among his early inventions. He started a business selling his cloth-shearing machines but it was not much successful. Soon, he ventured into glue making and established himself as a prosperous businessman. After a few years he discovered iron ore on his property and founded the Canton Iron Works.

This laid the foundation for his most glorious achievement the designing and building of the Tom Thumb steam locomotive for which he achieved worldwide acclaim. Cooper also had a strong interest in adult education and founded the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in Manhattan which offered courses to both men and women