Coleman, Robert, 1748-1825

Robert Coleman was an ironmaster in Lancaster County, Pa. Born in Ireland on Nov. 4, 1748, he emigrated to America in 1764 and settled in Reading, Pa. He learned the ironmaking business as a clerk at forges owned by Curtis and Peter Grubb. In 1773, he married Ann Old, the daughter of James Old, also a forge owner. In 1776, he took over the lease of the Elizabeth Furnace and was a major supplier of cannon and shot to the Revolutionary armies. After the war, he expanded his operations and purchased shares in several other furnaces. Coleman was also a leader of the Federalist Party in Lancaster County and held several public offices. He died in Lancaster on Aug. 14, 1825.

Robert Coleman was born of an English family near Strabane, Ireland on November 4, 1748, and emigrated to Philadelphia in 1764. He quickly became on of the the most important ironmasters in Pennsylvania.

Coleman learned the iron-making business while working as a clerk at Curtis and Peter Grubb's forges near Cornwall. He soon took a similar position at James Old's Quitapahilla Forge in Berks County. Coleman married Old's daughter, Mary Ann, in 1773 and took a lease of Salford Furnace near Norristown. Three years later he leased the Elizabeth Furnace near Manheim, Lancaster County, from the creditors of Henry William Stiegel. Coleman was a major supplier of cannon and shot to the Revolutionary armies.

After the war, Coleman greatly expanded his operations. He purchased all the shares in the Elizabeth Furnace between 1780 and 1794. In 1785 he bought the Speedwell Forge from James Old, and in 1786 he secured a 1/6 interest in the Cornwall Furnace from the Grubbs. In 1798, he acquired an additional 2/3 interest, being the total share of Curtis Grubb and half that of Henry Bates Grubb. The purchase included an equivalent share in the famous Cornwall Ore Bank, one of its richest iron deposits east of Lake Superior. Coleman built the Colbrook Furnace on his own account in 1791 and purchased a share of the Martic Forge in 1801.

Coleman was also a leader of the Federalist Party in Lancaster County and held several public offices. His was one of three critical electoral votes in the 1796 victory of Adams over Jefferson. Coleman died at Lancaster on August 14, 1825.