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James Fiskwas a flamboyant American financier, known as the âBarnum of Wall Street,â who joined Jay Gould in securities manipulations and railroad raiding.
Fisk worked successively as a circus hand, waiter, peddler, dry-goods salesman, stockbroker, and corporate official. In 1866 he formed Fisk and Belden, a brokerage firm, with the support of Daniel Drew. The following year Fisk joined Drew and Gould in protecting their control of the Erie Railroad from Cornelius Vanderbilt by issuing fraudulent stock. As vice president and comptroller, Fisk used corporate funds to corrupt public officials, produce Broadway shows, and support Broadway beauties, especially the well-known Josie Mansfield, to such an extent that he was also called âThe Prince of the Erie.â
Black Friday is the busiest retail day in the United States.
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With Drewâs help, Fisk aided Gould in an attempt to corner the gold market by inflating the price, a venture that brought them vast sums but led to the panic of âBlack Friday,â Sept. 24, 1869. Because Gould secretly sold much of his gold before prices fell, Fisk lost a considerable part of his investment. The repercussions of their actions were disastrous for the nationâs business and were felt even in Europe. On Jan. 6, 1872, after quarrels over Josie Mansfield and business matters, an associate, Edward Stokes, fatally shot Fisk.
