George W. Scranton

George Whitfield Scranton
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 12th district
In office March 4, 1859 – March 24, 1861
Preceded by	Paul Leidy
Succeeded by	Hendrick Bradley Wright
Personal details
Born	May 11, 1811 Madison, Connecticut, US
Died	March 24, 1861 (aged 49) Scranton, Pennsylvania
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Relations	Joseph A. Scranton (second-cousin)

George Whitfield Scranton (May 11, 1811 – March 24, 1861) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania from March 4, 1859, until his death in 1861.

Early life

George Scranton was born in Madison, Connecticut. He attended Lee’s Academy. He moved to Belvidere, New Jersey, in 1828 and became a teamster.

Career

Skyline of downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania. The city named after him and his family.

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

Personal life

He was the second-cousin to Joseph A. Scranton.

Sources

• George W. Scranton at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

External links

• George W. Scranton at Find a Grave