Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
Harris and Ewing Collection/Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (Digital file no. LC-DIG-hec-01989)
:
September 16, 1838, near Guelph, Ontario, Canada
:
May 29, 1916, St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Also Known As:
James Jerome Hill
James J. Hill was an American financier and railroad builder who helped expand rail networks in the northwestern United States.
After settling in St. Paul, Minnesota, about 1870, he established transportation lines on the Mississippi and Red rivers and arranged a traffic interchange with the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. On that lineâs failure in 1873, Hill interested Canadian capitalists and reorganized it as the St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Manitoba Railway Company, becoming its president in 1882.
He was active in banking as president of the Northern Securities Company (which in 1904 was declared in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act). In 1912 he took control of the First and Second National Banks of St. Paul and effected a merger. His Highways of Progress was published in 1910.
