1855-1937. US financier who donated his art
collection to found the National Gallery of
Art, Washington DC in 1937. His son, Paul
Mellon (1907-) was its president 1963-79. He
funded Yale University's Center for British
Art, New Haven, Connecticut, and donated
major works of art to both collections. Born
in Pittsburgh, Mellon attended Western
University of Pennsylvania and entered the
family banking firm. Through farsighted
investments and loans to the expanding steel
and oil industries of Pennsylvania, Mellon
became one of the wealthiest men in America.
He founded the Mellon National Bank 1902. He
was appointed secretary of the treasury by
President Harding 1921 and held the post
until 1932, under presidents Coolidge and
Hoover.