JP Morgan, founded by the legendary financier J. Pierpont Morgan, was certainly one of the most powerful banking forces in U.S. history. Morgan played a critical role in stabilizing financial markets during crises, including the Panic of 1907, and helped form the structure of modern corporate finance. However, JP Morgan was not the first U.S. investment bank. That distinction belongs to Brown Brothers Harriman, founded earlier in 1818. Morgan’s impact is monumental, but his firm rose to prominence later in the 19th century. His legacy continues today through JPMorgan Chase, one of the largest banks in the world, which is the result of multiple mergers over time. Understanding the timeline of financial institutions helps clarify how the U.S. banking sector evolved from small partnerships to global powerhouses.