The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-11-02
THE RISE OF GEO. w. PERKlNs
interesting Sketch Of the Career a
Enterprislng Financler.

Enterprislng Financler.
The annals of finance certainly do
not chronicle an example parallel TO
that which characterized the career OF
George Walbridge Perkins, who, start
ins out In life as an Office boy in an In.
suiance company In Chicago when Is
years of age has, In less than a quar-
ter of century, risen to the posi- ion
of leading partner In the world re-
nowned banking house of J. Pierront
Morgan & Co.
George Walbridge Perkins was born
in Chicago on Jan. 81, 1862. There he
was educated and received his training
in business life. At the age of Is he
decided that he would enter into soma
business occupation and give up his
schooling, preferring the practical les
sons of business life to the theoretical
ones of the school. Accordingly, he
became an Office boy in the employ Of
his father, then a western agent of the
New York Life Insurance Co. of New
York. under whose able tuition he ac-
quired those habits of thrift, industry
and application which have SO conspic-
uously marked his career; and, with an
ambitious youths natural desire tn
record a successful career, he devoted
himself from this humble start unspar-
ingly and untiringly to the accomplish
ment of his purpose. This was in lS1L
Two years thereafter he was promoted
TO the position of assistant bookkeeper
in the Cleveland Office of the New York
Life. in 1888 he was made cashier in
the same Office. Then, in 1856, he waS
advanced TO the position of solicitor for
the insurance company. In 1888 he be-
came the agency director at Denver.
Col, for the New York Life and in
spector of its agencies in the west in
1889 Then, on Feb. 30, 1892, Mr.. Per
kins, having familiarized himself so
thoroughly and mastered the details u
the business of the company, was elec'-
ed third vice president of the New York
Life. with headquarters at the home
Office in New York city, where he was
placed in charge of the entire agency
force of the company and won signal
to membership in the board OF trustees
on May 10, 1893, promoted to the posi-
ton of second vice president on April
13, 1898. and on Dec. 27, 1900. was elect
ed chairman of the company's finance
committee.
The great opportunities for large Il
nancial dealings at home and abroad
which his connection with the New
York Life afforded, Mr.. Perkins com
manded the attention Of so eminent
banker as J. Pierpont Morgan, who
then proffered him an important posi-
ton in his banking house, an honor
which Mr. Perkins at first declined, bit
afterward, on a second invitation, ac-
cepted. and in 1901 he became part
ner in the banking firm OF j. p Nor
gan & Co., New York; Drexel, Morgan
& Co, Philadelphia, and Morgan, Har-
jes & Co, Paris; but he did not relln-
quish his connection with the NeV
York Life, of which he was elected vice
president on May 10, 1903.
In his newer capacity as partner IN
the banking house of j. Z. Morgan &
Co, Mr. Perkins proved himself shreWd
In judgment, enterprising in projecting
and able in execution He has engln-
eered some of the greatest deals of the
Morgan firms and in the few years he
has been connected with the banking
house he has reached a commanding
position in the financial world
Mr.. Perkins, among other achieve
ments for the New York Life, secured
a new concession for that company
from Australia, also a new concession
from Switzerland and new concession
from Prussia In 1899 he negotiated
the first Russian loan ever placed IN
the United States, and in 1900 he was
instrumental in placing the first Ger
man loan ever brought to the United
States.
Mr.. Perkins is one of the hardest
workers, although a picture of healthy
young manhood, standing almost six
feet tall. Hard work and strict atten-
ton to business have" he says, been
my rule of life" and this rule has M
doubtedly achieved for him the success
he has won.-Pittsburg dispatch.