The New Student's Reference Work/Wanamaker, John

Wan′amaker, John, an American merchant, postmaster-general of the United States during 1889-93, and man of affairs, was born at Philadelphia, Pa., July 11, 1838, and was educated in the public schools of that city. In 1861, after removing for a time to Indiana, he set up in business for himself in his native city; and in 1876, after turning his establishment into a colossal department-store, with a separate house in New York City, he became the head of the firm—one of the largest concerns in the United States. In the conduct of these establishments he introduced the profit-sharing system among his employés, to their great pecuniary advantage; while his philanthropies manifested themselves in other directions, especially in the founding of Bethany Presbyterian Church and its organizations at Philadelphia and in presiding over the Young Men's Christian Association in that city. He also showed his great organizating and executive ability in the office of postmaster-general of the United States, to which he was appointed in 1889 by President Benjamin Harrison. During the Civil War he was one of the founders of the Christian Commission.