William Walker Scranton | |
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| Born | April 4, 1844 Augusta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | December 3, 1916 (aged 72) |
| Burial place | Dunmore Cemetery, Dunmore, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | businessman |
| Spouse | Katherine Maria Smith |
| Children | Worthington Scranton |
William Walker Scranton (April 4, 1844 – December 3, 1916) was an American businessman based in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He became president and manager of the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company after his father's death in 1872. The company had been founded by his father's cousin George W. Scranton. Among his innovations, Scranton adopted the Bessemer process for his operations in 1876, greatly increasing production of steel ties with a new mill. Scranton founded the Scranton Steel Company, in 1891 consolidated as Lackawanna Iron and Steel Company. The steel company became the second largest in the nation. He later also managed the Scranton Gas and Water Company, developing a secure water supply outside the city by creating Lake Scranton.
William W. Scranton managed the Lackawanna works during and after the Scranton General Strike of 1877.[1]: 498 [2]: 214
In 1902 Lackawanna Steel Company moved to a location south of Buffalo, New York on Lake Erie for access to new production of iron ore being shipped from Minnesota. The city of Lackawanna, New York was named after the company. Scranton stayed in his home city, working to develop companies and infrastructure.
- ^ Hitchcock, Frederick; Downs, John (1914). History of Scranton and Its People, Volume 1. Lewis historical publishing Company.
History of Scranton and Its People.
- ^ McCabe, James Dabney; Edward Winslow Martin (1877). The History of the Great Riots: The Strikes and Riots on the Various Railroads of the United States and in the Mining Regions Together with a Full History of the Molly Maguires.