Thomas Durant: Influence to the Railroad Map in the US

Thomas Durant was an American railroad promoter and financier. He was a major figure in the Union Pacific Railroad. As a railroad builder, Durant helped build the railroads in the Midwest. After the US Congress ratified the creation of the Union Pacific Railroad, John Dix was the company’s president and Durant became the vice president.

Durant was born in Lee, Massachusetts on February 6, 1820. He is a Doctor of Medicine by profession which he earned after graduating from Albany Medical College as cum laude in 1840. For a short while, he worked as assistant professor of surgery. He retired early from his profession and worked with his uncle’s grain company, the Durant, Lathrop & Co.

While with his uncle’s company, Durant was faced with the need of an improved inland transportation. He saw that the railroad was the best solution to the problem. He started his work in the railroad industry as Chicago and Rock Island railroad broker. There, he met Henry Farnam.

Durant and Farnam formed the Farnam and Durant, a contracting company. The new company’s first project was to raise the finances and construct the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad (M&M) after the railroad received major land grants for the construction of the first railroad for the state of Iowa. As planned, M&N will run between Davenport on the Mississippi River and Council Bluffs on Missouri River.

M&M constructed the first bridge that crossed the Mississippi River through a wooden railroad. However, a steamboat hit the bridge and the steamboat owner petitioned for the dismantling of the bridge. Durant hired an attorney named Abraham Lincoln to defend him. This relationship was the beginning of what would become a partnership in future. When Lincoln got the presidency and the US Congress legislated for the creation of the Union Pacific Railroad, Lincoln chose Durant to manage the projects of the railroad.

During his stint with the Union Pacific Railroad, Durant carried the burden of raising and managing the company’s finances. He used his power as the company’s financial czar to lobby with legislators some legislative agenda such as the increase in privileges and grants for railroads.