Captain of industry

Captain of industry

Captain of industry was a term originally used in the U.S. during the Industrial Revolution describing a business leader whose means of amassing a personal fortune contributes positively to the country in some way. This may have been through increased productivity, expansion of markets, providing more jobs, or acts of philanthropy. This contrasts with "robber baron", a term used to describe a business leader using political means to achieve their ends.

Some nineteenth-century industrialists who were called "captains of industry" overlap with those called "robber barons." These include people like J.P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie, and John D. Rockefeller.

The term was first coined by Thomas Carlyle.

ee also

* Business magnate (tycoon)
* Business oligarch
* Robber baron (industrialist)


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  • captain of industry — ˌcaptain of ˈindustry noun captains of industry PLURALFORM [countable] COMMERCE someone who runs or owns an important company and has a lot of influence: • An aptitude for leadership is essential for a successful captain of industry. * * *… …   Financial and business terms

  • captain of industry — noun count MAINLY JOURNALISM someone who owns or manages a large important company …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • captain of industry — the head of a great industrial enterprise : entrepreneur * * * the head of a large business firm, esp. of an industrial complex. [1835 45] * * * captain of industry A leading industrial figure or the head of a large industry • • • Main Entry:… …   Useful english dictionary

  • captain of industry — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms captain of industry : singular captain of industry plural captains of industry mainly journalism someone who owns or manages a large important company …   English dictionary

  • captain of industry — noun A prominent business person who owns or is the highest ranking executive of one or more major firms, especially one who has considerable wealth and influence. Plugson, who has indomitably spun Cotton merely to gain thousands of pounds . . .… …   Wiktionary

  • captain of industry — captains of industry N COUNT You can refer to the owners or senior managers of industrial companies as captains of industry …   English dictionary

  • captain of industry — n. a corporation officer; a capitalist. □ The captains of industry manage to hang on to their money no matter what. □ It’s fun to see those captains of industry drive up in their benzes …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • captain of industry — the head of a large business firm, esp. of an industrial complex. [1835 45] * * * …   Universalium

  • Industry — The category describing a company s primary business activity. This category is usually determined by the largest portion of revenue. The New York Times Financial Glossary * * * industry in‧dus‧try [ˈɪndəstri] noun industries PLURALFORM 1.… …   Financial and business terms

  • industry — The category describing a company s primary business activity. This category is usually determined by the largest portion of revenue. Bloomberg Financial Dictionary * * * industry in‧dus‧try [ˈɪndəstri] noun industries PLURALFORM 1. [uncountable] …   Financial and business terms

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