Frederic Tudor could get ice any time he wanted. He lived in chilly Boston and his family had a lake that froze over in the winter. Harvesting ice and storing it was a normal thing in New England in the 1800s, but Frederic decided he'd make a fortune if he could ship ice to the warmest places on earth. And everyone thought this was the dumbest business idea of all time!
No one would back Frederic's plan - no one would even let him rent a ship to carry his ice. For decades he tried and failed to get his ice business running. He even ended up broke and in jail. But finally he prevailed and became a wealthy and celebrated figure - who changed the world.
Write to us at businesshistory@pushkin.fm

From History Daily: John S. Pemberton Sells the First Glass of Coca-Cola
15:35

The Match Maker Who Nearly Burned Down Wall Street
48:34

Did "Neutron" Jack Welch Nuke GE?
53:23