In 1865, William Buck Dana, working a bold new departure in American journalism, established the nation's first business weekly, the Commercial and Financial Chronicle, in the country's commercial nerve center, New York City. As its publisher and editor, he became the nation's most influential reporter and commentator on business and finance, playing a major role in creating a national and international economy. Unequaled as a comprehensive and reliable source of business news, Dana's Chronicle has become a critical source for studying 19th century business history. This book is a study of Dana the man, his ideas, and their importance.

Divided into three sections, the book considers Dana's formative years, his career, and his later life. The book then turns to the main themes conveyed in the Chronicle's editorial content, allowing the reader to imaginatively reconstruct Dana's mental world. Comments on Dana's and his paper's importance and influence are also included. While enlarging our understanding of Dana, the Chronicle, and economic thought of the time, Advocate for American Enterprise will enhance our understanding of this critically important era.