Merchant Adventurer: The Story of W. R. Grace (Latin American Silhouettes) [Hardcover]

Marquis James (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1993 | Series: Latin American Silhouettes

This biography was written by two-time Pulitzer winner Marquis James in 1948, but was never published. W.R. Grace's son commissioned James to write it when the author was at the height of his career. However, as Viking Press was about to print the book, the Grace company decided not to release it. It then lay in the firm's archives until it was uncovered by Lawrence Clayton of the University of Alabama. "Merchant Adventurer" tells the story of one of America's most successful immigrants. First arriving in America in 1846, Irish-born William R. Grace worked his way up from ordinary seaman to become master of a vast commercial empire, reformer of the Democratic party and New York City's first Catholic mayor. Grace's fortune quickly rose once he began supplying ships in the Peruvian guano trade. By the late 1860s, Grace was a rich man; his firm, headquartered in New York, operated vessels all over the world, helped build railroads in Latin America, and ran guns to Peru for its disastrous war against Chile. Yet Grace's energies did not stop with his business dealings. In the 1880s he served twice as mayor of New York, successfully fighting the corruption of Tammany Hall. As the century waned, he battled to control the rubber market and nearly won a contract to build what is now the Panama Canal.

Editorial Reviews

From 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.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Merchant Adventurer, a rousing chronicle of the life and times of business magnate William Russell Grace, was initially scheduled for publication in 1948. Though it was commissioned by Grace's son and authored by Marquis James, the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer of Sam Houston and Andrew Jackson, executive officers representing W. R. Grace & Company successfully lobbied against its release. The manuscript surfaced decades later during the course of research conducted by Professor Lawrence Clayton. Now Clayton presents the narrative in its original form and offers a new introduction, providing additional details about both the author and his fascinating subject. W. R. Grace (1832-1904), an Irish immigrant, arrived in the U.S. at the age of 14. Over the next 50 years, Grace established a shipping and trading empire, amassed a huge fortune, and was twice elected to the office of mayor of New York City. Though contemporary readers may find James' spirited style a bit dated, the appeal of this rags-to-riches saga is timeless. Margaret Flanagan

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 424 pages
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers; 1St Edition edition (September 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0842024441
• ISBN-13: 978-0842024440
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,150,070 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Birth of a Enterprise, August 3, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Merchant Adventurer: The Story of W. R. Grace (Latin American Silhouettes) (Hardcover)

For many people, the name W.R. Grace is connected with lawsuits and legal nightmares. But, for a true look at the birth of this amazing enterprise, one should read "The Story of W.R.Grace". Apart from the civil actions that Grace has confronted in the past 50 years(which you will not read about in this book), the company and its fascinating founder, William R. Grace, hold a rich history and an incredible story of rags to riches.

As a young Irish boy, W.R. Grace came to America with a dream of wealth and commerce tied with a honest and sound approach to business. At a time when America's industrial revolution was booming and business pratices were not as regulated as they are today, Grace came forward with a honest and upfront approach that would change the face of America Commerce and would launch Grace into the spotlight, good and bad, for years to come. A must read for anyone in business!