"The book is a complete biography of John Thornton (1720-1790), an English merchant and businessman who was reputed to be the wealthiest man in Britain in the eighteenth century and, next to one other, the richest man in Europe. His wealth began with an inheritance of [pound]100,000 from his father, also a merchant, and upon his death his estate was at [pound]600,000. During his lifetime, it was probably greater, but he gave away much of it, making him also the most generous philanthropist of his age."--BOOK JACKET.