Biography of Jim Fisk, Notorious Robber Baron

Jim Fisk (April 1, 1835–Jan. 7, 1872) was a businessman who became nationally famous for unethical business practices on Wall Street in the late 1860s. He became a partner of the notorious robber baron Jay Gould in the Erie Railroad War of 1867–1868, and he and Gould caused a financial panic with their scheme to corner the gold market in 1869. Fisk was a heavyset man with a handlebar mustache and a reputation for wild living. Dubbed â€Å"Jubilee Jim,† he was the opposite of his sullen and secretive partner Gould. As they engaged in dubious business schemes, Gould avoided attention and avoided the press. Fisk couldnt stop talking to reporters and often engaged in highly publicized antics. It was never clear whether Fisks reckless behavior and need for attention was a deliberate strategy to distract the press and public from shady business deals. Fast Facts: James Fisk Known For: Wall Street speculator and schemer, robber baronAlso Known As: Big Jim, Diamond Jim, Jubilee JimBorn: April 1, 1835 in Pownal, VermontDied: Jan. 7, 1872  in New York CitySpouse: Lucy Moore (m. Nov. 1, 1854–Jan. 7, 1872)Notable Quote: I had everything I hankered after, money, friends, stock, trade, credit, and the best horses in New England. Besides, by God, I had a reputation. There wasnt no man that could throw dirt onto Jim Fisk. Early Life Fisk was born in Pownal, Vermont, on April 1, 1835. His father was a traveling peddler who sold his wares from a horse-drawn wagon. As a child, Jim Fisk had little interest in school—his spelling and grammar showed it throughout his life—but he was fascinated by business. Fisk learned basic accounting, and in his teens he began to accompany his father on peddling trips. As he showed an unusual talent for relating to customers and selling to the public, his father set him up with his own peddler’s wagon. Before long, the younger Fisk made his father an offer and bought out the business. He also expanded, and made sure his new wagons were finely painted and pulled by the best horses. After making his peddler’s wagons an impressive spectacle, Fisk discovered that his business improved. People would gather to admire the horses and wagon, and sales would increase. While still in his teens, Fisk had already learned the advantage of putting on a show for the public. By the time the Civil War began, Fisk had been hired by Jordan Marsh, and Co., the Boston wholesaler from whom he had been buying much of his stock. And with the disruption in the cotton trade created by the war, Fisk found his opportunity to make a fortune. Career During the Civil War In the earliest months of the Civil War, Fisk traveled to Washington and set up headquarters in a hotel. He began entertaining government officials, especially those who were scurrying to supply the Army. Fisk arranged for contracts for cotton shirts as well as woolen blankets which had been sitting, unsold, in a Boston warehouse. According to a biography of Fisk published soon after his death, he may have engaged in bribery to secure contracts. But he took a principled stand in what he would sell to Uncle Sam. Merchants who boasted of selling shoddy merchandise to the troops enraged him. In early 1862 Fisk began to visit areas of the South under federal control to arrange to buy cotton, which was in very short supply in the North. According to some accounts, Fisk would spend as much as $800,000 in a day purchasing cotton for Jordan Marsh, and arranging to have it shipped to New England, where the mills needed it. Battle for the Erie Railroad At the end of the Civil War Fisk moved to New York and became known on Wall Street. He entered into a partnership with Daniel Drew, an eccentric character who had become very wealthy after starting out in business as a cattle drover in rural New York State. Drew controlled the Erie Railroad. And Cornelius Vanderbilt, the richest man in America, was trying to buy up all the railroad’s stock so he could take control of it and add it to his own portfolio of railroads, which included the mighty New York Central. To thwart Vanderbilt’s ambitions, Drew began working with financier Gould. Fisk was soon playing a flamboyant role in the venture, and he and Gould made unlikely partners. In March 1868 the â€Å"Erie War† escalated as Vanderbilt went to court and arrest warrants were issued for Drew, Gould, and Fisk. The three of them fled across the Hudson River to Jersey City, New Jersey, where they fortified themselves in a hotel. As Drew and Gould brooded and plotted, Fisk gave grandiose interviews to the press, strutting about and denouncing Vanderbilt. Over time the struggle for the railroad came to a confusing finale as Vanderbilt worked out a settlement with his adversaries. Fisk and Gould became directors of the Erie. In typical style for Fisk, he bought an opera house on 23rd Street in New York City, and placed the railroad’s offices on the second floor. Gould and the Gold Corner In the unregulated financial markets following the Civil War, speculators like Gould and Fisk routinely engaged in manipulation that would be illegal in today’s world. And Gould, noticing some quirks in the buying and selling of gold, came up with a scheme by which he, with Fisk’s help, could corner the market and control the nation’s supply of gold. In September 1869, the men began working their scheme. For the plot to work completely, the government had to be stopped from selling gold supplies. Fisk and Gould, having bribed government officials, thought they were assured of success. Friday, Sept. 24, 1869, became known as Black Friday on Wall Street. The markets opened in a pandemonium as the price of gold shot up. But then the federal government began to sell gold, and the price collapsed. Many traders who had been drawn into the frenzy were ruined. Gould and Fisk came away unscathed. Sidestepping the disaster they had created, they sold their own gold as the price had risen on Friday morning. Later investigations showed that they had broken no laws then on the books. While they had created panic in the financial markets and hurt many investors, they had gotten richer. Later Years In the years following the Civil War, Fisk was invited to become the leader of the Ninth Regiment of the New York National Guard, a volunteer infantry unit which had become greatly reduced in size and prestige. Fisk, though he had no military experience, was elected colonel of the regiment. As Col. James Fisk, Jr., the unscrupulous businessman presented himself as a public-spirited individual. He became a fixture on New York’s social scene, though many regarded him as a buffoon when he would strut about in gaudy uniforms. Fisk, though he had a wife in New England, became involved with a young New York actress named Josie Mansfield. Rumors circulated that she was really a prostitute. The relationship between Fisk and Mansfield was gossiped about widely. Mansfield’s involvement with a young man named Richard Stokes added to the rumors. Death After a complicated series of events in which Mansfield sued Fisk for libel, Stokes became enraged. He stalked Fisk and ambushed him on a staircase of the Metropolitan Hotel on Jan. 6, 1872. As Fisk arrived at the hotel, Stokes fired two shots from a revolver. One struck Fisk in the arm, but another entered his abdomen. Fisk remained conscious and identified the man who had shot him. But he died within hours, early on Jan. 7. After an elaborate funeral, Fisk was buried in Brattleboro, Vermont. Legacy Fisk reached the zenith of his fame when his scandalous involvement with actress Josie Mansfield played out on the front pages of the newspapers. At the height of the scandal, in January 1872, Fisk visited a hotel in Manhattan and was gunned down by Richard Stokes, an associate of Josie Mansfield. Fisk died hours later. He was 37 years old. At his bedside stood his partner Gould, along with  William M. â€Å"Boss† Tweed, the notorious leader of Tammany Hall, New Yorks political machine. During his years as a New York City celebrity, Fisk engaged in activities which today would be considered publicity stunts. He helped finance and lead a militia company, and he would dress in an elaborate uniform that seemed like something from a comic opera. He also bought an opera house and saw himself as something of a patron of the arts. The public seemed fascinated by Fisk, despite his reputation for being a crooked operator on Wall Street. Perhaps the public liked that Fisk seemed to only cheat other wealthy people. Or, in the years following the tragedy of the Civil War, perhaps the public just saw Fisk as much-needed entertainment. Though his partner, Gould, seemed to have genuine affection for Fisk, its possible that Gould saw something valuable in Fisks very public antics. With people turning their attention to Fisk, and with Jubilee Jim often giving public statements, it made it easier for Gould to fade into the shadows. Though Fisk died before the phrase came into use, Fisk is generally considered, due to his unethical business practices and extravagant spending, an example of a robber baron. Sources â€Å"James Fisk: A Bigger Than Life Figure in the Gilded Age.†Ã‚  United States History.â€Å"Jim Fisk.†Ã‚  American-Rails.com.â€Å"The Murder of Jim Fisk: Vermonts Robber Baron. New England Historical Society, 5 Feb. 2019.

CPA or a Contract Specialist Free Essay Example, 1000 words

Employment of CPAs and related financial professionals was predicted to grow by 18% between 2006 and 2016 (http: //degreedirectory. org/articles/CPA_-_Accountant_ Career_Summary_Job_Outlook_and_Educational_Requirements. html). This means the demand for CPAs in the US will still persist in the next few years. The reason for this is the continually growing quantity of businesses which have flourished in most areas of the country. Despite recent negative economic cycles, accounting employment remains strong throughout the nation ( http: //www. ihireaccounting. com/accountingemployment ggact. asp), further reinforcing the statement that the current need for finance people will continue to rise. Current salaries for CPAs range from 30K up to 60K annually. Accountants median annual earnings were $57,060 in 2007 (http: //degreedirectory. org /articles/CPA_-_Accountant_Career_Summary_Job_Outlook_and_Educational _Requirements. html), which just goes to show that the career trends for CPAs are getting more favorable and is predicted to be better in the coming years. As mentioned earlier, CPAs have the option to either be employed in a company or to be part of an accounting firm. Some specific Accounting Firms in Alabama are Aldridge, Borden & Company, DiPiazza, LaRocca, Heeter & Company and Bern, Butler, Capilouto & Massey. We will write a custom essay sample on CPA or a Contract Specialist or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now I have a bachelor’s degree in Marketing, and two associate degrees, namely: Business and Accounting. My educational background obviously shows my interest in numbers and the financial side of business. Previous work experiences have accorded me the chance to learn about selling real estate and car dealership. I’ve had the opportunity to take some personality tests and I found out that I am more of the realistic and conventional type, hence, the practical and mechanical areas of the job come easy to me. I can say that I am also proficient with numbers and computers, and I prefer a structured organized environment with a definite set of goals. Contract Specialist A Contract Specialist is the point person for administration of contracts and dealing with contractors and is expected to perform responsibilities related to such contracted activities. He / she also acts as the liaison officer between contractors and the head of a company/locality. The contract specialist deals with suppliers to â€Å"solicit, negotiates, administers, closes-out and terminates purchase orders and contracts† (http: //www. cbp. gov/xp/cgov/careers/customs_careers/contract_specialist. xml), as the case may be.

Health Disparities And Prevention Of Child Abuse - 856 Words

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The Taming of the Shrew - Katherinas Transformation free essay sample

Advanced English Essay By Morgan Clifford Discuss Katherinas Transformation Through-Out The Play Love can transform any individual into a new person. In William Shakespeares play, The Taming Of The Shrew, Katherina Minola starts off as a rebellious and unorthodox character (especially when compared to her pure sister Bianca), but ends up evolving from a stubborn shrew into a loyal and obedient wife to Petruchio. Shakespeare uses the plot as well as numerous other techniques such as metaphor, symbolism and tone to establish the transformation of Katherina to show the audience the impact that love can have on ones personality and human spirit. By the end of the play, we are left to believe that Katherina was a shrew that was waiting to be tamed by her male suitor all along; and thereby hangs a tale. Through-out the beginning of The Taming Of The Shrew (Act I and Act II), Shakespeare presents Katherina as a feisty and rebellious feminist which results in her father, Baptista, being constantly bombarded with criticism and rage by not only possible suitors for Bianca but other characters featured within Padua. An example of peoples animosity towards her is when Gremio declares her as a fiend of hell and states that any man is so very fool to be married to hell. These metaphorical quotes give the audience an understanding as to the type of wife Katherina would be at this stage of the play. Hortensio also says that Katherina is not likely to get a husband unless she is of gentler spirit and claims that she is renowned in Padua for her scolding tongue. These quotes give the audience an understanding as to how different people perceive her character before her transformation. Katherina proves to the audience her stubbornness and unwillingness to bow down to men when she says to Petruchio after being told to marry on Sunday Ill see thee hanged on Sunday first. Katherina shouts with such bitterness because she is not used to people telling her what to do in the forceful manner that Petruchio uses. Katherina claims her rebellious spirit is down to the fact that she is too independent and intelligent to allow any man to tell her what to do, but the audience is led to believe that it is because she has never had male attention. At this point in the story Katherina is still in the mindset that she must not be controlled by a man and therefore acts like a shrew to turn away any possible suitors. Once Petruchio and Katherina are wed in quite an eventful ceremony which takes place in Act III Scene I, the taming of the shrew officially begins. After the two of them leave their wedding and are en route to Petruchios home in Verona, he makes a start of trying to rid her of her wicked ways by making her ride a burrow through the rain while he rides a horse. When they arrive at Petruchios home, Katherina could not fulfil her need for food and sleep with Petruchio making up an excuse that the food was not good enough for her. Later on, Petruchio and Katherina are preparing themselves to go back to Padua for her sister Bianca and Lucentios wedding. When Petruchio tells Katherina that a tailor will be making her a new outfit for the wedding, she gets excited. That is until she comes home to see that her new outfit was ripped to shreds by Petruchio after he reacted with rage towards the tailor (which helps Katherina understand that violence is not the best solution to ones problem) because the fabric was not good enough and she will have to wear her old outfit. Petruchios hateful behaviour teaches Katherina obedience without her even noticing the game that he is playing on her. Through the taming, Katherina learns obedience but more importantly she learns to see herself as others see her. On their journey to Padua, Petruchio demands that Katherina call the sun the moon and an old man a young virgin. Katherina does exactly what Petruchio tells her to and that part alone proves that Petruchio has succeeded in taming Katherina from an unpredictable shrew to a respectful wife. By the end of The Taming of the Shrew, Petruchio has succeeded in taming Katherina by making her a compliant and loyal wife. Katherinas obedience is tested when Petruchio says that the sun is the moon and that Vincentio is a young lady. Katherina proves her new-found subservience by saying What you will have it named, even that it is, and so it shall be so for Katherine. By saying this, Katherina shows Petruchio and the audience that she will adhere to whatever he says, whether it be true or not, simply because he is a man this proves how far she has come since the opening of the play where we saw her smashing windows when being quizzed on her love life. Katherina also passes the last test of obedience in the play, when Petruchio sends for her, while celebrating with Hortensio and Lucentio at his wedding reception, and she comes immediately. She then delivers a monologue to the women that attended the wedding about how she has been tamed by Petruchio and then she goes on to tell the women listening to her to place your hands below your husbands foot; in token of which duty, if he please. Katherina is saying that the wives must submit themselves to their husbands, a completely different attitude to the one that she possessed at the start of The Taming Of The Shrew. In her final speech, she also chastises Bianca and the widow for their disobedience to their duties as a wife. This shows that Katherina has not only been tamed but no longer acts like a shrew. Bianca has an outburst in front of the large crowd which proves to the audience that Bianca was the shrew all along. Now everyone knows the real Katherina. contrast conclusion edit presentation The significance of the change in Katherines behavior at the end of the play proves to be very important. It shows that people can change. It also shows that certain people can bring   out the best in somebody. In this case Petruchio brought out the best in Katherine after taming her and making her an obedient wife. Throughout most of The Taming of the Shrew, Katherine is portrayed as a stubborn shrew that will never be tamed; however, Petruccio does end up taming her and making her obedient to him. Kate is at first stubborn to Petruccios methods of taming her but soon obeys, thus becoming obedient to him. Katherine shows that though someone may seem to be a shrew, that they are really capable changing, an important part to human nature.