Samuel Lord (1803-1889) was a British-born American retail millionaire who founded Lord & Taylor. It was the oldest luxury department store in the United States.
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Early life
Lord was born in Saddleworth, West Riding of Yorkshire, the youngest of five children and was left an orphan while young.
Career
Lord served an apprenticeship in the trade of iron moulder, rising to be master of the craft. He worked in James Taylor's iron-foundry and in 1824 married Taylor's daughter and emigrated to America shortly thereafter. He borrowed $1,000 from his wife's uncle and in 1826 established a "dry goods" store at 47 Catherine Street in what is now Two Bridges, Manhattan, New York. In 1826 he was joined by his young wife and child, whom he had left in England.