Thomas C. Durant
Background
- Durant had earned an education in the field of medicine.
- He made most of his money by running schemes. The first large scheme that he ran was during the Civil War when he smuggled contraband cotton from the Southern states.
Railroad Involvement
Thomas Durant used the railroad to run a scheme and he made a lot of money.
- Durant became involved in the Transcontinental Railroad by making a large investment in the Union Pacific Railroad company. He used this investment to become the General Manager and Vice President of the UP.
- With his powerful positions in the UP, Durant ran a scheme called the Credit Mobilier Company and made a fortune.