By Caroline Dakers
This is the spectacular rags-to-riches story of James
Morrison (1789-1857), who began life humbly but through hard work and entrepreneurial
brilliance acquired a fortune unequalled in nineteenth-century England. Using
the extensive Morrison archive, Caroline Dakers presents the first substantial
biography of the richest commoner in England, recounting the details of
Morrison's personal life while also placing him in the Victorian age of
enterprise that made his success possible. An affectionate husband and father
of ten, Morrison made his first fortune in textiles, then a second in
international finance. He invested in North American railways, was involved in
global trade from Canton to Valparaiso, created hundreds of jobs, and relished
the challenges of 'the science of business'. His success enabled him to acquire
land, houses, and works of art on a scale to rival the grandest of aristocrats.
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