IRELAND, ROBERT LIVINGSTON, JR. (1 Feb. 1895-21 April 1981) was a colorful, prominent Cleveland business executive who had a long and distinguished career with the M.A. Hanna Co. and the Pittsburgh Consolidation Coal Co.
Born in Cleveland, Ireland attended University School, Taft School (Connecticut), graduating from Asheville School in North Carolina, 1914. He also attended Phillips Andover Academy (1914-1915) and studied mining engineering at Yale University (1915-1917). During World War I Ireland left Yale to enlist in the Naval Reserve Flying Corps.
After the war he worked for Susquehanna Collieries Co., a Hanna Coal Co. subsidiary in Pennsylvania, 1920-1924. Returning to Cleveland in 1924 as assistant to the general manager, Ireland rose through Hanna Coal, becoming manager in 1929, and president in 1931. With Pittsburgh Consolidation Coal's acquisition of Hanna Coal in 1946, Ireland became chairman of the executive committee, then vice-chairman of the Board in 1962. Ireland retired in 1966.
Ireland was an active civic and political leader who served on the boards of numerous organizations. He financially supported all the arts, even though he disliked opera and classical music. Ireland was a prominent figure in the local and state Republican party and through his friend, Governor James Rhodes, funding was approved for The Ireland Cancer Center at UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS in his memory.
Ireland married twice. He married Margaret Allen (d. 22 Oct. 1961) in 1918. They had four children: Mrs. Louise Humphrey, R. Livingston III, Melville H., and Kate Ireland. He married his first cousin, Mrs. Louise Ireland Grimes in 1967. They had no children. Ireland lived in BRATENAHL and is buried in LAKE VIEW CEMETERY.
Cleveland Families Oral History Project, WRHS.