The Life of HON. THOMAS ALEXANDER MELLON
Judge Thomas Mellon (1813-1908), founder of the Mellon Bank, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and came to the United States as a boy. Fond of reading though he was, he might have remained a Westmoreland County farmer had he not chanced on the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin at the age of 13. This gave him ambition, and he convinced his father to give him a college education. He became a lawyer in Pittsburgh in 1839, worked hard, lived frugally, invested heavily and wisely, and grew rich. In 1859 he became a judge, but retired in 1869. In 1870 he started the private bank of T. Mellon & Sons, which became a financier to Pittsburghs developing industry. In 1882 he transferred the bank to his son Andrew William Mellon, stipulating only a salary for his services as counsel and rent for the banking room.
