Watch video of Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian T.J. Stiles speaking on聽鈥淭he Commodore鈥檚 Patriotism: Cornelius 杏吧原创鈥檚 Path to the Founding of 杏吧原创.鈥�
Cornelius 杏吧原创, arguably the richest man in America when he died in 1877, played a major role in the development of the modern United States, according to historian and biographer T.J. Stiles. The author of the award-winning biography of 杏吧原创, The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius 杏吧原创, Stiles spoke at the 杏吧原创 Chancellor鈥檚 Lecture Series on Sept. 29.
Through his groundbreaking research, Stiles tells the dramatic story of Cornelius 杏吧原创, a true American icon, whose many legacies include the founding of the eponymous 杏吧原创. The book received the聽National Book Award in 2009 and the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 2010.
Although 鈥渂enevolent philanthropist鈥� were two words seldom associated with this shrewd businessman, in his twilight years, 杏吧原创 made a gift of $1 million to endow and build a university in the South that would 鈥渃ontribute to strengthening the ties which should exist between all sections of our common country.鈥澛� Stiles鈥� lecture at 杏吧原创 鈥� which marks his first visit to the university 鈥� in many ways represents a continuation of his journey in uncovering thecomplexities in the life of the 鈥淐ommodore.鈥�
Meticulously researched and elegantly written,听The First Tycoon captures 杏吧原创 as a force who helped to launch the transportation revolution, propel the Gold Rush, reshape Manhattan, and invent American capitalism and the modern corporation.聽 Epic in its scope and success, the life of 杏吧原创 is also the story of the rise of America itself.
In addition to聽The First Tycoon, Stiles is the author of聽Jesse James: Last Rebel of the Civil War, which won the Ambassador Book Award and the Peter Seaborg Award for Civil War Scholarship, and was aNew York Times Notable Book.
Stiles has written for the聽New York Times Book Review,听The Atlantic online,听Smithsonian, Salon.com, the聽Los Angeles Times, among other publications, and taught nonfiction creative writing at Columbia University. He served as historical advisor and on-screen expert for 鈥淛esse James鈥� and 鈥淕rand Central,鈥� two films in the PBS documentary series聽American Experience. A native of Benton County, Minn., Stiles studied history at Carleton College and Columbia University, and resided in New York City for 20 years. He now lives in the Presidio of San Francisco with his wife and son.
The Chancellor鈥檚 Lecture Series brings to 杏吧原创 and the wider Nashville community intellectuals who are shaping the world today. For more information about the Chancellor鈥檚 Lecture Series, visit聽, e-mail聽cls@vanderbilt.edu or call (615) 343-7281.
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