J.P. Morgan & Co.

J.P. Morgan & Co. began as a powerhouse in American finance, founded by the formidable financier J. P. Morgan in 1871. The firm, often called the "House of Morgan," carved out a reputation in investment banking, asset management, and private banking. Over its long history, it navigated mergers and acquisitions, eventually becoming part of JPMorgan Chase, the world's largest bank by market capitalization. For 146 years, until 2000, J.P. Morgan focused on commercial banking before its merger with Chase Manhattan Bank prompted a strategic shift, spinning off its business lines under the Chase brand. The institution's legacy is tied to the Gilded Age, when J. P. Morgan himself orchestrated major corporate consolidations, including the formation of U.S. Steel and General Electric. Today, its name lives on as a key component of a global banking giant.[edit]