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(1)In this summary you will learn
- Who Cornelius “Commodore” Vanderbilt was
- How he built his vast fortune
- How he helped usher in the age of modern capitalism
Why you should read The First Tycoon
Robber baron Cornelius “Commodore” Vanderbilt emerges from T.J. Stiles’s biography as a captivating character and a ferocious competitor. Nineteenth-century America’s most powerful tycoon had an imposing presence. At more than 200 pounds and six feet tall (two inches taller than the average American male at the time), Vanderbilt stood ramrod straight. A ferocious street fighter in his youth, he remained hale and hearty into his 80s. As a young steamboat skipper, Vanderbilt often beat his business rivals senseless and took their customers. Stiles tracks Vanderbilt’s remarkable business career, from his rowdy youth and family life to his later achievements as America’s founding capitalist, king of steamers, trains and international shipping. getAbstract recommends this fascinating, colorful book to anyone who wants to learn about the birth of the modern corporation through the life of its grandstanding father.
About the Author
Historian T.J. Stiles held a fellowship in American history at the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library. He is also the author of Jesse James: Last Rebel of the Civil War.
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