EntrepreneursThe past and the present

William Henry Ashley (1778-1838) Most successful fur-

trading entrepreneur of the West

Began fur trapping parties up the Missouri River

Jedediah Smith (1799-1832) Entrepreneur who

took advantage of the Southwest for trade

Took over Rocky Mountain Fur Company in 1826

Domingo Ghirardelli (1817-1894) Moved to San

Francisco in 1856, where he started a chocolate manufacturing business

Anthony Zellerbach (1832-1911) Moved to San

Francisco in 1868 where he became a paper manufacturer

Paper was scarce in the West

Gugliemo Marconi (1874-1937) First entrepreneur of

wireless telegraphy Transmitted Morse

code over the air for two miles

Sam Walton (1918-1992) Started Wal-Mart in

Arkansas in 1962

Arthur Blank and Bernie Marcus Opened first three

Home Depot stores in Atlanta in 1979

Richard Branson Formed Virgin

Atlantic Airways in 1984

Has had numerous businesses – including soft drinks, bridal wear, and cell phones

Oprah Winfrey

Began Oprah Winfrey show in 1985 and went national 1 year later

Formed HARPO Productions in 1986

ReferencesRetrieved February 15, 2009, from Business Week Website:

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/06/0628_greatest_entp/source/18.htm

(2003). Richard Branson. Retrieved February 15, 2009, from Lemonade Stories Web site: http://www.lemonadestories.com/virgin.html

References(2006). Oprah Winfrey Biography. Retrieved February 15,

2009, from Academy of Achievement Web site: http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/win0bio-1

(2007). Home Depot, Inc.. Retrieved February 15, 2009, from Reference for Business Web site: http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/businesses/G-L/Home-Depot-Inc.html

ReferencesRetrieved February 9, 2009, from Discovery Education

Web site: http://www.discoveryeducation.com