Samuel Insull
Entrepreneur
Utilities magnate who built up one of the largest holding companies in the United States. He lost it all during the Great Depression.
He was hired as Thomas Edison's secretary through personal connections and from there became president of the Chicago Edison Company.
He continued his acquisitions from Chicago through the entire Midwest, but was found guilty of fraud after the onset of the Great Depression and the collapse of his top companies.
His family was residing in London, England, when he was born.
His electricity empire at its height rivaled the shipping monopoly established by Cornelius Vanderbilt.