Jump to content
Objectivism Online Forum

History's Greatest Industrialist

Rate this topic


Devils_Advocate

Recommended Posts

So, who, in your opinion, was the greatest industrialist the world has ever seen? I've always admired both John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie (despite the religion of the first and the politics of the second). They both ran excellent companies, from what I know. But neither of them was exactly Hank Rearden. Who would you name the Captain of the Captains of Industry?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So, who, in your opinion, was the greatest industrialist the world has ever seen? I've always admired both John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie (despite the religion of the first and the politics of the second). They both ran excellent companies, from what I know. But neither of them was exactly Hank Rearden. Who would you name the Captain of the Captains of Industry?

What's you're criteria for greatness a la Hank Rearden? Most "rational"?

I vote J.J. Hill. Not greatest, but certainly one of most self-sufficient in what was arguably a mixed period with mixed personalities.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The train men. There are too many to name, in Britain and America alike, but James Jerome Hill would be an excellent example of a private railroader in a time of failing or near-failing public railroads. I love trains and railroads. To me, the train symbolises the Industrial Revolution, and so the great men who made that possible - both the invention of the train and the running of successful companies - were History's Greatest Industrialists. The division of labour that results in all our current wealth requires a massive transport network, to get raw materials to producers, from producers to traders.... all of this needs transport. Not to mention that a great billow steam engine is more than just impressive.

Edit: I didn't see Kendall's post. ;)

Edited by Tenure
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Perhaps they aren't even great yet, but I'm sure the current crop of space travel start-ups will be long remembered as the men who opened up the universe to humanity. Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Burt Ruttan, Robert Bigelow and many others.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
The more I understand banking, the more this guy becomes like God.

Recommend some reading on that?

You can't really compare different industrialists from different times and rank them objectively. But based on what they did, their own stories and such, I'd say my own personal favorite is the Commodore. Everything I read about him is like an adventure novel, or an O'Henry story. He is so interesting, and actually, ballsy. If you've read Bernsteins <I>Capitalist Manifesto</I>, the first page in the history section, you've caught a small glimpse of how awesome the guy was.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Johannes Gutenberg, hands down. Grandfather of the fathers of the industrial age.

Damn book worm.

Have you read Hugo's essay in Hunchback comparing architecture to the printing press?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Have you read Hugo's essay in Hunchback comparing architecture to the printing press?

Yes, a stunning work in my estimation.

In its printed form, thought is more imperishable than ever; it is volatile, irresistible, indestructible. It is mingled with the air. In the days of architecture it made a mountain of itself, and took powerful possession of a century and a place. Now it converts itself into a flock of birds, scatters itself to the four winds, and occupies all points of air and space at once.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

William Henry Vanderbilt "The Public be Damned!" Yes, just for that line. He wasn't one to cower in fear, or talk about the common good, or engage in corporate self-destruction, or so many of these other actions that businesses today should be ashamed of doing to expedite their demise.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I really love Thomas Edison, because he was a great inventor and a great industrialist. In fact, he invented the industrial lab, which is now the mainstay for high tech corporations.

Mehh, I like Tesla better. Although in fairness, he wasn't an industrialist.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't know about "the greatest" but I definitely will back the J.P. Morgan recommendation. The man single-handed saved the economy two times. He is essentially doing what government is doing now (trying to save a dying financial system), except all by himself. That really says something in my opinion.

Morgan,_Sam.jpg

Edit: And as a side note, I hope to have my name on these lists one day!

Edited by Mammon
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...