19. An Eccentric Businessman
American businessman Timothy Dexter (1747 – 1806) was born in a working class family of modest means in Colonial Massachusetts. He became a tanner’s apprentice at age sixteen, and got pretty good at leatherworking. His life and career revolved around the contrasts between his humble origins, and his desire to join the colony’s elites. Massachusetts’ blue bloods were not receptive to the uncouth and low brow leatherworker’s attempts to join their ranks. So they went out of their way to try and thwart his ambitions and steer him wrong. However, sheer dumb luck allowed Dexter to foil their schemes, and instead succeed time after time.
