The Business Career of Moses Taylor: Merchant, Finance Capitalist and Industrialist

Moses Taylor (1806-1882) was one of the richest and most important men in America in the 19th Century. He controlled what is today Citibank and he controlled the railroad lines that go Westward from New York City. He helped purchase the land that made John Jacob Astor wealthy. He also had an unfortunate association with Boss Tweed of Tammany Hall. Moses Taylor (January 11, 1806 - May 23, 1882) was a 19th century New York merchant and banker and one of the wealthiest men of that century. At his death, his estate was reported to be worth $70 million, or about $1.7 billion in 2006 dollars. He controlled the National City Bank of New York (later to become Citibank), the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad, the Moses Taylor & Co. import business, and he held numerous other investments in railroads and industry.