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The success of Hopewell Furnace (c.1771 to 1883) was largely impacted by national events, market fluctuation and the business skill of its managers. The person who established Hopewell Furnace, Mark Bird, lost the property at auction in 1788 due to a series of negative business dealings. The land was frequently sold and purchased over the next several years. Daniel Buckley and his brothers-in law Thomas Brooke and Matthew Brooke purchased Hopewell Furnace in 1800, and their decedents owned Hopewell Furnace until it was sold to the federal government in 1935. Read below to learn more about the prominent owners of Hopewell Furnace. For a comprehensive list of Hopewell’s owners and managers, please explore the timeline at the bottom of the page.
Prominent Owners of Hopewell FurnaceMark BirdMark Bird (1739 to 1812) was an ironmaster, entrepreneur, and supporter of the American Revolution. Mark’s father, William Bird, was a success in Pennsylvania’s early iron industry. After William’s death in 1761, Mark assumed control of his father’s assets and built additional ironworks, including Hopewell Furnace around 1771.
During the American Revolution, Bird served as a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly, Lieutenant Colonel of the Second Battalion of the Berks County Militia, Chairman of the General Committee of Berks County, and Deputy Quartermaster General. Bird personally bought supplies for soldiers including uniforms, tents and provisions. It is unknown if Hopewell Furnace was directly involved in producing weapons and ammunition, but it is believed some of Bird’s ironworks constructed cannon and shot for continental frigates. Nevertheless, Bird overextended himself during the war and had a series of bad business dealings. Hopewell Furnace was sold in a sheriff’s sale in 1788, and Bird fled to North Carolina to avoid debtors. He died there in 1812. 
NPS Photo Daniel BuckleyDaniel Buckley (1761 to 1827) was an ironmaster and businessman. He also served on the Pennsylvania legislature from 1794 to 1795 and from 1798 to 1800. On August 21, 1800 the partnership of Daniel Buckley and his brothers-in law Thomas Brooke and Matthew Brooke purchased Hopewell Furnace. They were individually involved in several ironworks in eastern Pennsylvania prior to their purchase of Hopewell Furnace. In 1787, Daniel Buckley married his business partner’s sister, Sarah Brooke. Upon Daniel Buckley’s death in 1827, his son Clement, George Washington and Matthew Brooke Buckley became heirs to half the company.Thomas Brooke and Matthew BrookeThomas Brooke (1751 to 1830) and his brother Matthew Brooke (1761-1821) were ironmasters and businessmen. Their sister, Sarah, married their business partner, Daniel Buckley. Following Matthew’s death in 1821, the business continued in the hands of the remaining partners, who in 1824 effected a settlement with the children of the deceased partner for the one-third share of the undivided estate. Upon Daniel Buckley’s death in 1827, the company was renamed Buckley and Brooke. At that time, Daniel Buckley’s son Clement, George Washington and Matthew Brooke Buckley became heirs to half the company. On June 14, 1830 Matthew Brooke Buckley purchased Clement’s and George’s shares. Later that year, Thomas Brooke died leaving his half share of Hopewell to his children Charles and Clement Brooke.Clement BrookeIn 1800, at age 16, Clement Brooke (1784 to 1861) began his iron-making career as assistant clerk at Hopewell Furnace, which his father and uncles had recently purchased. He also worked part-time at night supervising the filling of the blast furnace. By the time he was 20, he had become the clerk and kept the records of all company operations. He followed that job with one as caretaker of the property, supervising general maintenance during a period when the furnace was not operating. He was also in charge of the stamping mill, which crushed slag to reclaim the small amounts of iron contained in it. Although he lacked formal education, his practical experience embraced all aspects of furnace operations. In 1816, at the age of 32, he became resident manager and ironmaster at Hopewell Furnace with a salary of $600 a year plus rent-free use of the ironmaster’s mansion. By 1827, he was part owner as well. He retired from his management duties in 1848 but remained a partner until 1861.
NPS Photo Dr. Charles M. ClinganIn 1849, Dr. Charles Clingan (c.1820 to 1876), Clement Brooke’s son-in-law, took over management of the furnace. Clingan was married to Maria Teresa Brooke for six years when he was given the position of manager. He held the position for 10 years before moving his family to Philadelphia to engage in banking.Furnace Management Timeline1769 March 29, Mark Bird and James Wilson purchase land that will later become Hopewell Furnace c. 1771 Hopewell Furnace built 1785 Mark Bird and James Wilson secure a loan from John Nixon for the 8,000-acre plantation 1786 Bird and Wilson default on loan to Nixon, plantation goes up for sale 1788 Hopewell Furnace plantation sold at auction to Cadwallader Morris (1/3 share) and James Old (2/3/ share) 1790 Cadwallader Morris sells 1/3 share of Hopewell Furnace to his brother Benjamin Morris 1791 Benjamin Morris buys remaining 2/3 share from James Old and becomes sole proprietor 1793 James Old buys back the property from Benjamin Morris 1794 James Old sells plantation to James Wilson (James Old holds mortgage) 1795 James Wilson leases plantation to John Lewis Barde, John Rene Barde and Paul Henry Mallet Provost 1796 James Wilson sells Birdsborough portion to John Lewis Barde. James Old reacquires Hopewell Furnace portion. 1798 Daniel Buckley and Matthew Brooke enter into a lease agreement for Birdsborough Estate 1799 Hopewell Estate seized from James Old by Sherriff Nicholas Dick 1800 March 7, James Old and Sherriff Dick sell toBenjamin Morris 1800 Daniel Buckley and his brothers-in-law Thomas and Matthew Brooke purchase Hopewell Furnace 1816 Clement Brooke, son of Thomas Brooke, becomes Ironmaster of Hopewell Furnace. Firm reorganized as Daniel Buckley and Company 1821 Matthew Brooke dies 1827 Daniel Buckley dies. Company renamed Buckley and Brooke. Daniel Buckley son’s Clement, George Washington and Matthew Brooke Buckley became heirs to half the company 1830 Matthew Brooke Buckley purchased Clement’s and George’s shares in Hopewell. Thomas Brooke dies leaving his half share of Hopewell to his children Charles and Clement Brooke 1831 The firm was reorganized under the name Clement Brooke and Company. Each of the three partners held equal shares after Matthew Brooke Buckley sold 1/3 of his share to the Brooke brothers 1849 Dr. Charles Clingan, Clement Brooke’s son-in-law, took over management of the furnace 1852 Company reorganized again when a rift developed between Clement Brooke and Charles Brooke 1853 Charles Brooke was bought out of the partnership and a new anthracite furnace was built, Matthew Brooke Buckley dies and bequeaths his half share to his son Edward S. Buckley and wife Mary Swift 1861 Although retired, Clement Brooke remained partner until his death in 1861. Upon his death his half share was transferred to his daughter Maria T. Clingan. The firm’s name was changed to the Clingan and Buckley Company 1883 Hopewell Furnace is permanently shut down 1894 Maria T. Clingan traded property in Philadelphia for Edward S. Buckley’s share in Hopewell Furnace 1895 Maria T. Clingan transfers Edward S. Buckley’s half share to her children Charles B. Clingan, Alan Hunter Clingan and A. Louise Clingan Brooke 1904 Maria T. Clingan dies and Hopewell Furnace is bequeathed to her surviving children 1905 Alan Hunter Clingan dies. A. Louise Clingan Brooke becomes the sole proprietor when she received her brother’s share and purchased Charles Clingan’s share from his children 1935 After more than 150 years as an active furnace, the Hopewell compound totaling more than four thousand acres was sold to the federal government 1938 The furnace complex and 213 acres were designated Hopewell Village National Historic Site |
Last updated: February 4, 2025