The American Fur company was founded in 1808 by an ambitious German immigrant named John Jacob Astor. At the age of twenty on his journey to America he was introduced to the fur trade, which he soon after shrewdly managed to dominate. Like many businessmen Astor was self-made and extremely driven. As a result, by 1787 he was a completely self employed fur trader. He traded trinkets with Indians for highly coveted animal skins such as beaver, martin, ermine, mink, otter, deer and others that could be fashioned into clothing. As time progressed he became wealthy which afforded him some political power and influence. The American Fur company destroyed its competition through mergers such as with Bernard Pratte and Co. in 1826 and buying out competitors
