Origins & Early Life

Jay Gould (; May 27, 1836 – December 2, 1892) was an American railroad magnate and financial speculator who founded the Gould business dynasty. He is generally identified as one of the robber barons of the Gilded Age. His sharp and often unscrupulous business practices made him one of the wealthiest men of the late 19th century. Gould was an unpopular figure during his life and remains controversial.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Jason Gould was born in Roxbury, New York, to Mary More (1798–1841) and John Burr Gould (1792–1866). His maternal grandfather, Alexander T. More, was a businessman, and his great-grandfather, John More, was a Scottish immigrant who founded the town of Moresville, New York. Gould grew up in poverty and had to work at his family's small dairy farm. As a young boy, he decided that he wanted nothing to do with farming, his father's occupation, so his father dropped him off at a nearby school with fifty cents and a sack of clothes.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Gould studied at the Hobart Academy in Hobart, New York, paying his way by bookkeeping at a nearby blacksmith. The blacksmith offered Gould a half-interest in the blacksmith shop, which he sold to his father during...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• André-Marie Ampère — Contemporary (Died in 1836) (1836): Founder of classical electromagnetism; inventor of the solenoid and electrical telegraph.
• Bret Harte — Contemporary (Born in 1836) (1836): Celebrated American writer known for vivid tales of the California Gold Rush.
• Claude-Louis Navier — Contemporary (Died in 1836) (1836): Pioneering French engineer and physicist, renowned for continuum mechanics.
• Akira Mutō — Contemporary (Born in 1892) (1892): Imperial Japanese Army General implicated in war crimes during WWII.
• Alfred Lunt — Contemporary (Born in 1892) (1892): Esteemed American actor, celebrated for his stage partnership with Lynn Fontanne.
• Arthur Compton — Contemporary (Born in 1892) (1892): Pioneering physicist known for the Compton effect and contributions to nuclear science.
• Ajahn Buddhadasa — Shared historical date (05-27 · Born) (1906): Pioneering Thai Buddhist monk known for reinterpreting doctrine and fostering religious reformation.
• Ben Feldman — Shared historical date (05-27 · Born) (1980): American actor known for roles in Superstore, Mad Men, and Silicon Valley.
• Aaron Copland — Shared historical date (12-02 · Died) (1990): Pioneering American composer, conductor, and critic, known as the "Dean of American Music".
• Britney Spears — Shared historical date (12-02 · Born) (1981): The 'Princess of Pop', an iconic and influential American singer.
• 1836 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1836
• May 27 (05-27) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on May 27
• 1892 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1892
• December 2 (12-02) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on December 2