Aspinwall Empire

The martime empire created by New York merchant William H. Aspinwall helped shape the course of American history. Capturing the spirited life of the New York maritime community, this lively narrative traces Aspinwall's notable career: his entry into the shipping business in the 1830s; his championship of early clipper-ship designs in the 1840s; his establishment of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company and the Panama Railroad in the 1850s;his work as a secret agent during the Civil War; and even his art collecting.