Alexander T. Stewart: The Forgotten Merchant Prince

by Stephen N. Elias

Overview

This is the first major biography of Alexander T. Stewart, known during his lifetime as The Merchant Prince for his success in retail, wholesale, and manufacturing in New York City. At the time of his death in 1876, Stewart was one of the three wealthiest men in America, along with William B. Astor and Cornelius Vanderbilt. But, because he died with no surviving children, his name has all but been forgotten. In this work, Stewart is revived, his remarkable success as the father of the department store examined, and his great contributions to retailing acknowledged and recounted. Not only a definitive account, this story of a major figure in America's Gilded Age, as told by Stephen Elias, is also an absorbing tale.

This work fills a gap in the literature on American history and the history of our retail trade. It will be of use to historians, students of merchandising, and those interested in New York's golden age.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275941888
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	06/30/1992
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.90(d)
Lexile:	1420L (what's this?)

About the Author

STEPHEN N. ELIAS is a financial and management consultant in California, as well as an amateur historian. He has served as an adjunct professor of finance and accounting at Pepperdine University, and has been a chief financial officer and chief executive officer for computer, technical, and financial firms.

Table of Contents

Introduction
The Beginning
Development of a Merchant
Partners and Employees
The Marble Palace
The Civil War
The Politico
Mansion Builder, Socialite, and Patron of the Arts
A Servant to the People
Epilogue
Selected Bibliography
Index