During the 19th and 20th centuries, several members of the Whitaker family and related families, made important contributions to the American iron and steel industry. First Generation Joseph Whitaker I (1755-1838) was the son of a Leeds cloth manufacturer; he came to America as a British soldier during the American Revolution and deserted, settling in Pennsylvania near Hopewell Furnace. He was merely a woodcutter for the ironmakers, but four of his children became prominent ironmakers. Second Generation James Whitaker (1782-1875) began producing nails in Philadelphia about 1805, and in 1816 he and his brother Joseph II leased a rolling mill at the Falls of the Schuylkill, the first of many investments in the iron trade. He was the managing partner at the Phoenix Iron Works for several years and later was active in family interests at Reading. In 1846 he returned to Philadelphia and mostly retired from iron work, although he remained an investor in several enterprises. He became a Quaker late in life. Joseph Whitaker II (1789-1870) was a prominent ironmaster, businessman, and politician. He was the ironmaster at the Phoenix Iron Works, the Principio Furnace, and owned parts of these businesses and others, along with others of his family. Francis A. Whitaker (1799-1876), brother of Joseph Whitaker II, was also an ironmaster. He operated the Matilda Furnace, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania in 1848-9, and may have operated the Elk Iron Works near Elkton, Maryland. His son William H. Whitaker (1835-1920) was a president and owner of the Philadelphia Athletics baseball team of 1882-1890. George Price Whitaker (1803-1890), brother of Joseph Whitaker II, was his partner in most of his enterprises. He received his early training at an iron works in New Castle County, Delaware and also saved enough money to receive some formal education in Philadelphia. He went on to manage a forge near Reading, Pennsylvania. His first investments were in a rolling mill near Elkton, Maryland and (with his brother James) a forge in North East, Maryland, which he managed for seven years. In 1836 George and his brother Joseph Whitaker II purchased the Principio Furnace and related properties, which had been in ruins since being burned during the War of 1812, and rebuilt. In 1845 George, Joseph, W. P. C. Whitaker and a partner built an ironworks at Havre de Grace, Maryland. In 1848 George, Joseph, and partners purchased the old Durham Furnace (once run by George