John Murray Forbes

He began his career at age 15 working for his uncles in their counting house business, Perkins and Company. After seven years in the China office, he moved to the U.S. in 1846 to become active in the railroad industry, combining several smaller railroads into the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company in 1859. He was active in the Civil War, helping to organize the African-American regiments from Massachusetts, and offering his maritime expertise to the U.S. Navy.