Peter J. McArdle (1874–1940) also known as P.J. McArdle was a labor activist and local politician in

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

. A

rolling mill In metalworking, rolling is a metal forming process in which metal stock is passed through one or more pairs of rolls to reduce the thickness, to make the thickness uniform, and/or to impart a desired mechanical property. The concept is simil ...

worker and union council member influential in the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers, he was elected to

Pittsburgh City Council The Pittsburgh City Council serves as the legislative body in the City of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city ...

, serving four terms.

Formative years and family

Born in Belpre, Ohio in 1874, McArdle grew up in

Muncie, Indiana Muncie ( ) is an incorporated city and the county seat, seat of Delaware County, Indiana, Delaware County, Indiana. Previously known as Buckongahelas Town, named after the legendary Delaware Chief.http://www.delawarecountyhistory.org/history/docs ...

and then moved to

, Pennsylvania in 1905 when he was elected as president of the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers. McArdle's home in later life was on Bigham Street in the Mt. Washington neighborhood of

. His son, Joseph A. McArdle, became a Pittsburgh city councilmember and United States Congressman. His great-grandson is actor

Zachary Quinto Zachary John Quinto (; born June 2, 1977) is an American actor and film producer. He is known for his roles as Sylar, the primary antagonist from the science fiction drama series ''Heroes (American TV series), Heroes'' (2006–2010); Spock in th ...

; their family story was featured on the 2022

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of '' Who Do You Think You Are?'', an

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television series that explores the family histories of celebrities.

Union activities and political career

worker and union council member who became influential in the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers, Peter J. McArdle hosted the union's 1909 convention and was also involved in the Steel strike of 1919. McArdle was then elected to

, serving from 1911 to 1913. In 1912, he was a member of the city's planning commission when the Mt. Washington Roadway was proposed in 1912. He was subsequently re-elected to the Pittsburgh city council, serving from 1916 to 1919, 1922 to 1930, and 1932 to 1940. McArdle ran in the 1933 Republican primary for

Pittsburgh mayor The mayor of Pittsburgh is the chief executive of the government of the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, as stipulated by the Charter of the City of Pittsburgh. This article is a listing of past (and present) mayors of Pittsburgh. ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McArdle, Peter J. 1874 births 1940 deaths American trade union leaders People from Belpre, Ohio People from Muncie, Indiana Pittsburgh City Council members Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers people Trade unionists from Indiana