Henry Bessemer 206 John Bright, Manufacturer 212 Thomas Edward, Cobbler and Naturalist 224 Robert Dick, Baker and Naturalist 232 John Duncan, Weaver and Botanist 240 James Lackington, Second-Hand Bookseller 247 Horace Greeley's Start 254 James Gordon Bennett, and how he founded his "Herald" 264 Three John Walters, and their Newspaper 275 George Hope 288 Sir Henry Cole 294 Charles Summers 300 William B. Astor, House-Owner 307 Peter Cooper 313 Paris-Duverney, French Financier 332 Sir Rowland Hill 342 Marie-Antoine Careme, French Cook 349 Wonderful Walker, Parson of all Work 355 Sir Christopher Wren 363 Sir John Rennie, Engineer 372 Sir Moses Montefiore 379 Marquis of Worcester, Inventor of the Steam-Engine 385 An Old Dry-Goods Merchant's Recollections 392 PORTRAITS. PAGE ICHABOD WASHBURN _Frontispiece._ CHAUNCEY JEROME 79 GERRIT SMITH 133 MYRON HOLLEY 163 JOHN BRIGHT 212 JOHN DUNCAN 240 PETER COOPER 313 SIR ROWLAND HILL 342 CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY. DAVID MAYDOLE, HAMMER-MAKER. When a young man begins to think of making his fortune, his first notion usually is to go away from home to some very distant place. At present, the favorite spot is Colorado; awhile ago it was California; and old men remember when Buffalo was about as far west as the most enterprising person thought of venturing. It is not always a foolish thing to go out into the world far beyond the parent nest, as the young birds do in midsummer. But I can tell you, boys, from actual inquiry, that a great number of the most important and famous business men of the United States struck down roots where they were first planted, and where no one supposed there was room or chance for any large thing to grow.