John Vaughan (1786-1846) - shipbuilder and community leader. Like Jacob Tees, John Vaughan began his shipyard during the boom in shipbuilding created by the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812.  His original shipyard, at the foot of Shackamaxon Street, and his second yard at the foot of Palmer Street (later Cramp's drydock), saw their zenith during the years of steamboats and the first transatlantic packet ships. Active from 1810-1846, he still found time to organize and serve as first president of the Kensington Temperance Society; at the time of his death, he was also the president of the Board of Trustees of Kensington ("Old Brick") Methodist Episcopal Church.

This biography was compiled by Rich Remer