Walter V. Shipley, who masterminded a string of bank mergers instrumental in the creation of JPMorgan Chase, the largest U.S. lender, died Friday. He was 83.

Shipley was the former chairman and CEO of Chemical Bank, driving the acquisitions of Texas Commerce Bank in 1987, Manufacturers Hanover in 1991 and Chase Manhattan four years later, after which the growing lender took Chase Manhattan’s name. He retired in 1991, the year before Chase purchased investment bank J.P. Morgan.