James Henry Carpenter
James Henry Carpenter (September 14, 1846 – March 6, 1898) was a 19th-century American engineer and industrialist who founded the Carpenter Steel Company (renamed in 1968 as the Carpenter Technology Corporation). Born in Brooklyn, New York, he joined the Union Navy as a "cabin boy" at age 15 during the American Civil War, during which he was wounded in action. He was promoted to master's mate in the United States Navy for meritorious conduct and was appointed to the United States Naval Academy at age 16. He resigned from the US Navy in 1865, aged 19, and studied engineering in New Jersey.
James Henry Carpenter | |
|---|---|
James Henry Carpenter | |
| Nickname(s) | Henry |
| Born | September 14, 1846 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | March 6, 1898 (aged 51) Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Place of burial | Charles Evans Cemetery, Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | Union Navy |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank | Master's mate and Midshipman |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Other work | Founder of Carpenter Steel Company, renamed in 1968 Carpenter Technology Corporation. |
On June 7, 1889, he founded the Carpenter Steel Company of Reading, Pennsylvania, becoming its general manager. Under his management, the company was a successful supplier of armor plating and ordnance to the US Navy.