James Hay Reed
Encyclopedia
James Hay Reed, Sr. was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania
, Reed received an A.M.
from the Western University of Pennsylvania (now named the University of Pittsburgh)
in 1872 and read law to enter the bar in 1875. He was in private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
from 1875 to 1891.
On February 10, 1891, Reed was nominated by President Benjamin Harrison
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
vacated by Marcus W. Acheson. Reed was confirmed by the United States Senate
on February 20, 1891, and received his commission the same day. Reed served in that capacity for less than a year, resigning his judgeship on January 15, 1892.
Reed then returned to his private practice in Pittsburgh. As a lawyer, he counseled many of the business leaders responsible for turning Pittsburgh into an industrial power. He was the senior member of the law firm of Reed, Smith, Shaw & Beal; director of Allegheny Heating Company; president and director of Pittsburgh, Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad Company; director of California Railway and Power Company; treasurer and trustee of Carnegie Hero Commission; trustee and treasurer of Carnegie Institute and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh; director of Commerce Housing Commission; chairman of board of Farmers' Deposit National Bank; director of Farmers' Deposit Trust Company; director of Fidelity Title and Trust Company; director of Gulf Oil Corporation; manager of Kingsley Association; vice-president and director of Philadelphia Company and its associated companies; president and director of Reliance Insurance Company of Pittsburgh; president and director of Union Railroad Company; director of United Railway Investment Company; director of United States Steel and Carnegie Pension Fund.
Reed was a close friend and attorney for Andrew Carnegie; Reed secured the transaction that would be known as the largest personal commercial transaction, selling Carnegie Steel for $480 million dollars (approximately $10.6 Billion currently) and creating U.S. Steel. Reed was an original director and investor in Carnegie Steel and owned the second highest majority of shares in the company, near 16%, equal to $76 million dollars ($1.9 billion according to 2009 inflation calculators). Reed also invested heavily with Pittsburgh Steel and Public Utilities and facilitated the turn of 20th Century U.S. Industry.
Reed was a founding partner of Reed Smith, a global law firm with revenues of $940 million U.S. dollars. Reed was the father of the late Sen. David Aiken Reed
(1880-1953) and is the great-great-great grandfather of ballet dancer Reece Sarofim, better known by stage name Robby Gavriel Herron.
He continued in practice until his death, in Pittsburgh, in 1927. A Pennsylvania state historical marker marks his birthplace near the Carnegie Science Center
on Pittsburgh's North Shore
.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Allegheny City was a Pennsylvania municipality located on the north side of the junction of the Allegheny and Ohio rivers, across from downtown Pittsburgh. It was annexed by Pittsburgh in 1907...
, Reed received an A.M.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from the Western University of Pennsylvania (now named the University of Pittsburgh)
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
in 1872 and read law to enter the bar in 1875. He was in private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
from 1875 to 1891.
On February 10, 1891, Reed was nominated by President Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
The United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania sits in Pittsburgh, Erie, and Johnstown, Pennsylvania. It is composed of ten judges as authorized by federal law. The Honorable Judge Gary L. Lancaster is currently Chief Judge of the Western Pennsylvania District...
vacated by Marcus W. Acheson. Reed was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on February 20, 1891, and received his commission the same day. Reed served in that capacity for less than a year, resigning his judgeship on January 15, 1892.
Reed then returned to his private practice in Pittsburgh. As a lawyer, he counseled many of the business leaders responsible for turning Pittsburgh into an industrial power. He was the senior member of the law firm of Reed, Smith, Shaw & Beal; director of Allegheny Heating Company; president and director of Pittsburgh, Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad Company; director of California Railway and Power Company; treasurer and trustee of Carnegie Hero Commission; trustee and treasurer of Carnegie Institute and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh; director of Commerce Housing Commission; chairman of board of Farmers' Deposit National Bank; director of Farmers' Deposit Trust Company; director of Fidelity Title and Trust Company; director of Gulf Oil Corporation; manager of Kingsley Association; vice-president and director of Philadelphia Company and its associated companies; president and director of Reliance Insurance Company of Pittsburgh; president and director of Union Railroad Company; director of United Railway Investment Company; director of United States Steel and Carnegie Pension Fund.
Reed was a close friend and attorney for Andrew Carnegie; Reed secured the transaction that would be known as the largest personal commercial transaction, selling Carnegie Steel for $480 million dollars (approximately $10.6 Billion currently) and creating U.S. Steel. Reed was an original director and investor in Carnegie Steel and owned the second highest majority of shares in the company, near 16%, equal to $76 million dollars ($1.9 billion according to 2009 inflation calculators). Reed also invested heavily with Pittsburgh Steel and Public Utilities and facilitated the turn of 20th Century U.S. Industry.
Reed was a founding partner of Reed Smith, a global law firm with revenues of $940 million U.S. dollars. Reed was the father of the late Sen. David Aiken Reed
David A. Reed
David Aiken Reed was an American lawyer and Republican party politician from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He represented Pennsylvania in the United States Senate....
(1880-1953) and is the great-great-great grandfather of ballet dancer Reece Sarofim, better known by stage name Robby Gavriel Herron.
He continued in practice until his death, in Pittsburgh, in 1927. A Pennsylvania state historical marker marks his birthplace near the Carnegie Science Center
Carnegie Science Center
The Carnegie Science Center, located in the Chateau neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, opened in 1991.With a history that dates to October 24, 1939, the Carnegie Science Center is the most visited museum in Pittsburgh...
on Pittsburgh's North Shore
North Shore (Pittsburgh)
The North Shore is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's North Side. It has a zip code of 15212, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by both the council members for District 1 and 6...
.