Merchant Adventurer
The Story of W. R. Grace
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- $77.99
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- $77.99
Publisher Description
Marquis James's penchant for the sturdy individualists of our history, which has twice led him to a Pulitzer Prize, finds a sympathetic new subject in W. R. Grace, the Irish immigrant boy who not only opened new fields to American commerce but also became an outstanding mayor of New York and a powerful amateur in national politics. In this warm, nostalgic story, made possible by his access to the files of W. R. Grace & Co., James combines his gift for biography and his close acquaintance with business history to investigate a characteristic phenomenon of American life.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This splendid biography of William R. Grace (1832-1904) tells the story of a poor Irish immigrant who created an international empire. Although originally scheduled to appear in 1948 and commissioned by Grace's son, Joseph, the book, written by Pulitzer Prize- winner James, was withheld from publication by W. R. Grace executives who believed that the manuscript depicted the firm unfavorably. University of Alabama history professor Clayton discovered the galleys in a Manhattan warehouse while researching a history of the corporation. In a tale rich with details of Grace's maritime and political ventures as well as his personal life, James, who died in 1955, chronicles an extraordinarily varied career. Grace opened up commerce with South America, where he made his first fortune trading guano, then dealt in everything from lumber and sewing machines to torpedoes for the 1879 war between Peru and Chile. A reform Democrat, he twice served as mayor of New York City during the 1880s and remained active in both business and politics right up to his death. ( Sept. )
