James Fisk was born in 1834.  He died in 1872.  Fisk worked successively as a circus hand, waiter, peddler, dry goods salesman, stockbroker, and corporate official.  In 1866 he formed fisk and Belden, a brokerage from, with the support Danial Drew.  The next year Fisk joined Drew, and gould in protecting their control of the Erie Railroad from Cornelious Vandebilt by issuing fraudulent stock. Fisk used corporate funds to corrupt public officials, and produce Broadway shows.
 

  With Drews help, Fisk aided Gould in an attempt to corner the gold market by upping the price, this brought them vast sums but led to the panic of " Black Friday " September 24,1869.  Because Gould sold so much of his gold before their prices fell, Fisk lost a large part of his investment.  Their actions spelt disaster for the nations business and were having an effect in Europe.  On January 6, 1872 an angry associate Edward Stokes, shot Fisk to death.