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John Pierpont Morgan (1837–1913), who enjoyed enormous prestige in financial circles, is viewed as the guardian of American capitalism. The bank which he founded – J. P. Morgan Bank – is one of the most influential in the world.In the mid-19th century, America was a nation that had yet to be developed. J. P. Morgan understood that in order to meet the country’s enormous needs, strength could be found in unity. He therefore set up huge businesses – trusts – in the railroad, steel, electricity, telephone and maritime transport industries, in which the latest technological advances could be implemented. He sponsored the Titanic, the sinking of which was the sole failure of his career. At the very last possible moment, the Federal Government called upon him to prevent America from going bankrupt. As an admirer of France and a dedicated collector, J. P. Morgan spent nearly five months of every year in Europe – most of the time in Paris – where he bought thousands of works of art. An extraordinary person, he marked his century and his country, and contributed to the rise in economic and political power of a nation that would soon lead the world.Anne Kraatz who holds a doctorate from the École Pratique des Hautes Études, has already published many books at les Belles Lettres: Mode et philosophie ou le néoplatonisme en silhouette, 1470-1500 (2005); Histoire du commerce franco-russe, concurrence et contrefaçons, de Colbert à 1900 (2006) and Luxe et luxure à la cour des papes de la Renaissance (2010). She’s American and she worked six months on Morgan Archives.
