Peter J. McArdle
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Peter J. McArdle
| image = Peter J. McArdle (1874–1940).png
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1874|7|17}}
| birth_place = Belpre, Ohio, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1940|1|1|1874|7|17}}
| death_place = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| burial_place = Calvary Catholic Cemetery
| other_names = P. J. McArdle
| relatives = Joseph A. McArdle (son)
Zachary Quinto (great-grandson)
}}
Peter J. McArdle (1874–1940) also known as P. J. McArdle was a labor activist and local politician in Pittsburgh. A rolling mill worker and union council member influential in the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wall-street-journal-tin-workers-in-c/158009280/ |title=Tin Workers In Convention |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |place=Pittsburgh |page=6 |date=1909-06-15 |accessdate=2024-10-28 |via=Newspapers.com}} he was elected to Pittsburgh City Council, serving four terms.
Formative years and family
Peter J. McArdle was born in Belpre, Ohio on July 17, 1874.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lDzUOay507EC&pg=RA2-PA72 |title=Western Pennsylvanians: A Work for Newspaper and Library Reference |editor-first=Charles Alexander |editor-last=Rook |publisher=Western Pennsylvania Biographical Association |place=Pittsburgh |page=272 |date=1923 |access-date=2024-10-28 |via=Google Books}} He grew up in Muncie, Indiana and then moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1905 when he was elected as president of the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers.{{cite web|url=https://www.wesa.fm/post/scenic-pj-mcardle-roadway-named-politician-who-wanted-another-route-pgh |title=The Scenic P.J. McArdle Roadway, Named For A Politician Who Wanted Another Route To Pgh |publisher=wesa.fm |date=2018-01-15 |accessdate=2019-08-03}}
McArdle's home in later life was on Bigham Street in the Mount Washington neighborhood of Pittsburgh. He died there on January 1, 1940, and was buried at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Pittsburgh.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-mcardle-rites-wi/158009698/ |title=McArdle Rites Will Be Held This Morning |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |page=2 |date=1940-01-04 |access-date=2024-10-28 |via=Newspapers.com}}
His son, Joseph A. McArdle, became a Pittsburgh city councilmember and United States Congressman. His great-grandson is actor Zachary Quinto; their family story was featured on the 2022 series finale of Who Do You Think You Are?, an NBC television series that explores the family histories of celebrities.{{CN|date=April 2023}}
Union activities and political career
A rolling mill 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 Pittsburgh City Council, 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.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-another-bitter-elec/158009479/ |newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press |date=1933-09-17 |lang=en-US |title=Another Bitter Election Looms in November; Democrats Will Offer a Real Battle This Year |last=Townley |first=John B. |page=8 |access-date=2024-10-28 |via=Newspapers.com}}
References
{{Reflist}}
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{{s-npo|union}}
{{succession box|title=President of the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers|years=1905–1911|before=Theodore Schaffer|after=John Williams}}
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{{Pittsburgh}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McArdle, Peter J.}}
Category:American trade union leaders
Category:People from Belpre, Ohio
Category:People from Muncie, Indiana
Category:Pittsburgh City Council members
Category:Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers people