William Vanderbilt: The Mistaken Robber Baron

William Henry Vanderbilt

The life of Cornelius Vanderbilt was filled with cut throat competition. A man of extraordinary energy, he build two business empires. First was a maritime transport empire. And the second was a railroad empire. Vanderbilt became recognized as a ruthless tycoon, earning the title of robber baron. However, in 1877, he passed away and left his wealth to his eldest son, William Vanderbilt. William was mostly a contradiction of his father. And his life would prove to this fact.

Andrew Mellon: Investor to Secretary of Treasury

Andrew Mellon

J.P. Morgan was not alone in having a keen eye for investments. Morgan, a financier with powerful influence and enormous wealth, had made investments in scientific discoveries as well as ventures that became successful. But Morgan did not have the monopoly of having a foresight for profits. Andrew Mellon was also a financier, visionary, and, government official. Mellon would bet his money in several ventures and capitalize in new technologies. From his sound investment decision he accumulated huge wealth and influence and allowed him to be respected and trusted by the Presidents of the United States.

Charles Schwab: Steel Maker and a Tragedy

Charles M. Schwab

One of the most desired resources during the Industrial Revolution was steel. Most countries that wanted to become industrialized must be able to produce their own steel. And the United States, one of the most industrialized and advance countries during the late 19th century, had produced their steel. Several men managed to capitalize on the need of steel and became rich. Among these men were Andrew Carnegie. But within the mist of Carnegie, another man grew to become an iconic industrialist. His name was Charles Schwab.

John Warne Gates: From Barbed Wire to Riches

John Warne Gates

Barbed wire is a small tool that changes the world. It changed how ranchers grew their livestock. It’s a tool used to keep prisoners inside their prison. It changed the faces of battlefields forever. During the advent of this small but decisive tool, many took the opportunity to make some money from it. But one man stood to dominate the industry. A man that did not invent barbed wire but used it to made a fortune from it. A fortune that so huge that a million dollars can be easily loss in one poker game. 

Daniel Drew: A Victim of His Own Ways

Daniel Drew

In 1868, a war of business tycoons erupted. The price was the lucrative line of Erie, connecting New York to Illinois. In one side, the powerful and influential ferryman turned railroad King, Cornelius Vanderbilt. On the other side, the Erie Ring, composed of men who were highly regarded as cheats and unscrupulous. It was composed of Jim Fisk, Jay Gould, and another unexpected faithful turned roguish speculator, Daniel Drew.

Jim Fisk: Manipulator, Speculator

James Fisk

After the Civil War, America experience a rapid reconstruction followed by unprecedented industrialization. Government did not dominated the scene but businessmen, speculators, and bankers. Among the most prominent, infamous, and unscrupulous of these men was James Fisk. Ruthless and greedy, he inflicted torment to his enemies and even to his own company.

The Life of Jay Gould

Jay Gould

He was a man brave enough to clash with one of the wealthiest man in the United States. He proved to be even bolder when he was prepared to use illegal means to achieve his goals. He profited at the expense of other’s money and life savings. From a poor humble background, the life of Jay Gould horrified many.

Erie War: Watered Stocks and Unregulated Capitalism

A caricature of the Erie War

He started as a ferry tycoon. But from the flames of the Civil War, a new booming industry emerged – the railroad industry. A man with tenacity and ruthlessness, Cornelius Vanderbilt entered the rising industry to get a share of the profits. In 1860’s he managed to take a hold of the important New York Central Line that connected New York City to the western part of New York State. However, this was not enough. He wanted as well take control of the second line that went farther to Chicago, which was held by Erie Line. His attempt to grab the line would spark what would be known as the Erie War.

John Jacob Astor: King of Fur

John Jacob Astor

America is the land of opportunity for migrants hoping for a better life. America began when Europeans started to move to the New World from the 17th-century. After the first thirteen colonies won their independence, many continued and began to realize their dreams in the newly independent United States. One of these individuals was a German immigrant that rose to become the first of the most influential and wealthy men in the country.

Cornelius Vanderbilt: Ferry Owner Turned Railroad King

Cornelius Vanderbilt

Transportation is a viable mode of traveling from one place to another. It allowed economies to grow. It allowed people to see different places besides their home. The bigger your country, the more the mode and more integrated the transportation should be. The United States is one example of these big countries and during the 18th-century, many cash in on this industry. Among of this transport tycoons is the competitive "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt. 

J.P. Morgan: The Giant of Financial World

J.P. Morgan

Most of the greatest tycoons of the Gilded Age were rags to riches stories. From a poor humble background, to a self-made man, to a great industrialist criticized for his practices, this is the usual story line of great businessmen like Rockefeller and Carnegie. However, it cannot be said the same for John Pierpont Morgan. His story was that of someone born to a rich and affluent family. 

Fall from Grace: The Homestead Strike of 1892

Worker behind a cover during the shoot out

After the bloody and devastating Civil War, a period of industrial boom soon followed. The period known as the Gilded Age saw the rise of many industrialist, mostly were known as Robber Barons. This group of industrialist abused the lack of laws that protect fair competition, dissent wages, and safe working conditions. They subjected their workers to long hours work in very harsh working conditions for meager wages. In 1892, a union, the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers (AA), pushed for a strike to voice their concerned on the management of the Homestead Steel Plant owned by the steel tycoon, Andrew Carnegie, and his right hand man, Henry Frick.

Cleveland Massacre: The Rise of Standard Oil

John D. Rockefeller (1870's)

In winter of 1871, a collusion was form between the railroads and the oil industry. As the two began to execute their devious plan to corner the railroad and oil industry under the name of South Improvement Company, the public, especially the press, protested against the monopolistic intentions of the group. As a result, the South Improvement Company disappeared with the winter. However, when spring bloom in 1872, so as a new powerful company also appeared, a bigger and stronger company of the oil mogul John Rockefeller, Standard Oil.

Andrew Carnegie: Steel Man and Philanthropist

Andrew Carnegie

The modern world has seen developments in communication with smart phone flooding the market. Most people now live in cities with skyscrapers appearing over the skies. Weapons of war developed rapidly with new modern tanks and fighter planes liter the battlefield. All of these developments owed to one material – Steel. During the 19th-century, steel was just at its infancy. However, many saw potential with these new material. One man that made a huge profit out of it and began to produce it in large quantities, paving the way for a new modern industrialize America.

South Improvement Company: Start of a Monopoly

Thomas Scott (Left) and John Rockefeller (Right)

John D. Rockefeller was known as the man who monopolized the American oil industry for some decade. He dominated 90% of the North American oil trade. He beat down his competitors with predatory efficiency and ruthlessness. Rockefeller earned strong opposition and criticism. Finally, in 1911, his most cherished business, the Standard Oil, was found guilty of being a monopoly and break up into several companies, which some became powerful oil companies. The story of the creation of the monopoly of Standard Oil began in 1870’s as a collusion of interests and advantages under the name of South Improvement Company.

John D. Rockefeller: Robber Baron, Oilman, Billionaire

John D. Rockefeller

Oil is one of the most treasured and valuable commodity in the world. Many countries, especially China, want to get a hold of it. Most of the oil reserve is owned by great billion-dollar companies such as Chevron, Mobil, and Exxon. But during the 1800’s, the advent of the black gold, a company was formed that became the root of the mentioned companies and from a man that is known as the richest person ever.