American Merchant Robert Dollar And China

Robert Dollar is a very famous businessman in American modern history; he had made great success in Lumber business and Shipping business. He is "one of the Fifty Greatest Men" who built the America. The American Business called him "The Grand Old Man of the Pacific Coast". Dollar not only had business in U.S., but also made some business in China. Dollar had been to China every year from 1902 to 1932 which he passed away this year. According to the incomplete statistics, he had been to China more than 33 times. At first, he tried to make lumber business and open some branch offices in China. Then he made Shipping business between China and America, gradually it became one of the top Shipping Company between China and America. Meanwhile, Dollar also tried his best to build a good relationship between Chinese and American Business Chamber and promote the business corporation between them. The Minister of Industry, Commerce, and Labor Dr. H. H. Kung said:Robert Dollar is a grand old man and true friend of Chinese people, brings welfare to Chinese people. Therefore, Dollar has a close relation with China. However, there are few studies about him. This thesis mainly focuses on business and social activities in China. Sum up his business activity, corporation activity and charity activity.In the first part, analyzing Dollar’s character by growing experience in his early time, finding out its influence on his commerce idea. Meanwhile, learn Dollar’s first expression of China from his joineries to China in 1902 and 1903. In the second part, describing some commerce activities and companies of Dollar in China. We can learn his commerce activities in China from Dollar Lumber Company and Dollar Shipping Company. In the third part, I focus on the corporation between Chinese and American Business Chamber and find out Dollar’s position in this corporation. We mainly focus on three corporation activities of Business Chamber between China and America from 1910 to 1915. In the fourth part, we can learn some social activities of Dollar in China. In order to please officers, Dollar made financial donations to education and temple. Showing his experience during 1911 Revolution and his attitude to revolution, reflects his opinion on China’s political situation.Though the description of Robert Dollar’s activities in China, we can learn Dollar and corporation of Business Chamber much more systematically. We also have a good example to study American businessman in China in early 20th century.