Devils_Advocate Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zip Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 Henry Ford? Friedrich Krupp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KendallJ Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrock3215 Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 My vote goes to Andrew Carnegie. I was completely enthralled while reading his autobiography and I recommend it to everyone. If we are including financial titans in the vote, then I would pick Jesse Livermore and JP Morgan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenure Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 (edited) 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 October 8, 2008 by Tenure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D'kian Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KendallJ Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 JP Morgan. The more I understand banking, the more this guy becomes like God. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RicardoSmith23 Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian0918 Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 I saw Folsom's lecture on Myth of the Robber Barons, and he goes into a lot of detail about Vanderbilt and his race against the govt-funded Collins for steamship traffic dominance. He definitely paints the guy as an adventurer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athena glaukopis Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 Johannes Gutenberg, hands down. Grandfather of the fathers of the industrial age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KendallJ Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrock3215 Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timeless Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thales Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Andrew Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thales Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Mehh, I like Tesla better. Although in fairness, he wasn't an industrialist. They were both great, but Edison accomplished far more, and, as you say, Tesla wasn't an industrialist, which is why he's not really part of the debate here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haemp Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Arthur Vining Davis of Alcoa Aluminum When asked by a reporter what he had in mind with all of these Florida purchases, Davis replied, "Making money. What else? Now go away, let me get on with it." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ordr Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 That's a fantastic quote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mammon Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 (edited) 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. Edit: And as a side note, I hope to have my name on these lists one day! Edited December 8, 2008 by Mammon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
volco Posted December 24, 2008 Report Share Posted December 24, 2008 Damn book worm. Have you read Hugo's essay in Hunchback comparing architecture to the printing press? could you ellaborate? Where can it be found? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.