A detailed chronological biography traces Jay Gould's rise from humble origins through work as a surveyor and author, early business conflicts such as the tannery dispute, marriage and first railroad ventures, aggressive contests for control of the Erie Railroad, involvement in the gold manipulation culminating in Black Friday, and expansion into western railways, telegraph consolidation, and urban transit. It interweaves accounts of boardroom confrontations, congressional scrutiny, personal habits, family life, death and funeral, and examines his methods, character traits, wealth accumulation, inheritance, and public reputation, concluding with anecdotes that illustrate the strategist's temperament and the consequences of his financial career.