Which company was founded in 1799 as the Manhattan Company?

JPMorgan Chase traces its history to the Manhattan Company, founded in 1799.

The Manhattan Company was established in New York City in 1799 by Aaron Burr. Although its stated purpose was to provide a water supply, its charter also permitted banking, and the organization soon operated as a bank. That institution later became part of Chase Manhattan Bank and, through a long chain of mergers, JPMorgan Chase.

The modern company was formed in 2000 through the merger of J.P. Morgan and Chase Manhattan, then expanded significantly through its 2004 merger with Bank One and its 2008 acquisition of Washington Mutual's banking operations. JPMorgan Chase is therefore not simply the same institution as the 1799 company; it is the present-day successor to several major banking organizations. Its history is often confused with that of JPMorgan & Co., the investment bank associated with John Pierpont Morgan.