![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sangamithraiyer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/coopergrave.jpg?w=225\" "\\"Peter")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
On February 12, 2012, Friends of Cooper Union organized a visit to Green-wood Cemetery in Brooklyn to pay respects to Peter Cooper on his 221st<\/sup> Birthday.\u00a0 Cooper, his wife, children and their families are also buried there on a private grassy mound, on a small traffic island.\u00a0 Much chiseling was needed to carve these beautiful words that describe Cooper\u2019s contributions to society.\u00a0 Here\u2019s what was written, taking up multiple sides of this gravestone monument:<\/p>\n PETER COOPER<\/p>\n PATRIOT. PHILANTHROPIST. SAGE<\/p>\n PIONEER UNDER THE FREE<\/p>\n INSTITUTIONS OF A NEW NATION IN WORKS OF<\/p>\n INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISE<\/p>\n AND OF FAR SIGHTED BENEVELENCE<\/strong>.<\/p>\n FOUNDER OF THE COOPER UNION<\/p>\n FOR THE ADVANCEMENT<\/p>\n OF SCIENCE AND ART, WHICH HE<\/p>\n CONCEIVED WHEN A POOR<\/p>\n APPRENTICE AND REALIZED<\/p>\n AFTER MANY YEARS OF<\/p>\n SACRIFICE AND DEVOTION<\/p>\n THUS BECOMING THE FIRST<\/strong><\/p>\n IN AMERICA PERSONALLY<\/strong><\/p>\n TO ADMINSTER LARGE PRIVATE<\/strong><\/p>\n FORTUNE FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n DISTINGUISEHED AS<\/p>\n MUNICIPAL LEGISLATOR<\/p>\n INVENTOR, MECHANIC,<\/p>\n AND MANUFACTURER,<\/p>\n HE WAS A LEADER IN PROVIDING<\/p>\n HIS NATIVE CITY WITH ITS POLICE<\/p>\n AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS,<\/p>\n ITS PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM<\/p>\n AND THE CROTON WATER.<\/p>\n HE DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED<\/p>\n THE FIRST STEAM LOCOMOTIVE<\/p>\n BUILT IN AMERICA:<\/p>\n RECEIVED THE BESSEMER MEDAL<\/p>\n AS THE FATHER OF THE<\/p>\n AMERICAN IRON TRADE,<\/p>\n WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINATORS<\/p>\n OF THE TRANSATLANTIC CABLE<\/p>\n AND FURNISHED THE MEANS<\/p>\n BY WHICH THIS UNDERTAKING<\/p>\n WAS REVIVED AND ACCOMPLISHED.<\/p>\n SIMPLE AND DEVOUT IN SPIRIT,<\/p>\n INDUSTRIOUS AND HONORABLE IN BUSINESS,<\/p>\n HE DEVOTED HIS GENIUS AND ENERGY<\/p>\n NOT MORE TO USEFUL<\/p>\n PRIVATE ENTERPRISES<\/p>\n THAN TO THE DIRECT SERVICE OF<\/p>\n MANKIND, CHIEFLY THROUGH THE<\/strong><\/p>\n GIFT OF EDUCATION, WHICH<\/strong><\/p>\n LEADS TO SELF-HELP, SELF-RESPECT<\/strong><\/p>\n AND GOOD CITIZENSHIP.<\/strong><\/p>\n INSPIRED BY FAITH<\/p>\n IN INFINITE LOVE WORKING<\/p>\n THROUGH IMMUTABLE LAW,<\/p>\n HE LIVED TO A GREAT AGE<\/p>\n IN THE GRATITUDE AND AFFECTION<\/p>\n OF HIS FELLOW MEN.<\/p>\n BORN FEBRUARY 12, 1791<\/p>\n DIED APRIL 4, 1883<\/p>\n IN HIS NINETY-THIRD YEAR.<\/p>\n For more information about the current situation facing this historically tuition free college: visit the \u00a0Friends of Cooper Union website.<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>For additional posts on Cooper Union click\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On February 12, 2012, Friends of Cooper Union organized a visit to Green-wood Cemetery in Brooklyn to pay respects to Peter Cooper on his 221st Birthday.\u00a0 Cooper, his wife, children and their families are also buried there on a private grassy mound, on a small traffic island.\u00a0 Much chiseling was needed to carve these beautiful … <\/p>\n