Captains of Industry; Or, Men of Business Who Did Something Besides Making Money

In the raw, expanding America of the late nineteenth century, James Parton set out to prove that business and virtue could coexist. This collection profiles industrialists, inventors, and entrepreneurs whose fortunes came not from merely accumulating wealth but from genuinely improving their trades and communities. Benjamin Franklin serves as the lodestar, the polymath businessman whose curiosity and civic duty were as pronounced as his financial success. Parton profiles figures like David Maydole, who reimagined the hammer, and Ichabod Washburn, who revolutionized wire manufacturing, showing how dedication to craft and community could transform entire industries. These are not simple hagiographies; Parton acknowledges imperfections while celebrating genuine achievement. Originally aimed at inspiring young Americans entering commercial life, the book argues that wealth earned through genuine contribution to society represents something noble. For modern readers grappling with questions of corporate responsibility and meaningful work, Parton's vision of capitalism as a vehicle for civic improvement feels strikingly relevant, even radical.