Henry Ford (1863-1947) was born the year of the battle of Gettysburg, and died two years after atomic bombs were dropped on Japan. His life personified the tremendous technological changes achieved in that span. Using his innate mechanical abilities, hard work and exceptional inventiveness, Ford led the transformation of American industry.
Ford biographer Vincent Curcio asks, “How could such malignancy, and greatness too, coexist in one person?” This article attempts to answer this question.