Business leaders of the late 19th century Many great business leaders from the 19th century have been regarded to as greedy, unscrupulous even as robber barons. They were also regarded as far too power hungry. Is there such a thing as far too power hungry? Were these men actually captains of industry and ahead of their time? Cornelius Vanderbilt is a prime example of someone who people view as a robber baron. Vanderbilt did not come from a family with money. At the age of sixteen with only a one hundred dollar loan, Vanderbilt bought his first ferry. Soon he was given the nickname the Commodore due to the large ferry freight that he had built up for his business. It took Vanderbilt forty years to build the largest shipping freight in the
