Today Lipton means tea. However, in his time Sir Thomas Lipton was known for much more. Raised in desperate poverty, he became rich beyond his wildest dreams. He built a global empire of markets, factories, plantations, and stockyards, and his colorful pursuit of the America's Cup trophy made him a beloved figure on both sides of the Atlantic. Here, biographer Michael D'Antonio tells his tale. Beginning with a journey across the United States just after the Civil War, Scotsman Thomas J. Lipton developed the ambition and learned the business techniques that helped him create the first chain of grocery stores. Wealthy at 30, he set his sights on the tea trade, and soon his name became synonymous with his product. Lipton's great business success makes for a compelling story, but his most intriguing creation was a public persona--one of the first formed with the help of modern mass media.--From publisher description.