Biography of napoleon hill 1883 1970

American author

For the Memphis tradesman, see Napoleon Hill (Memphis businessman). For the Lithuanian landmark, peep Napoleon's Hill. For the stack bank in Israel, see Tel Gerisa.

Napoleon Hill
Hill in 1904
Born	Oliver Napoleon Hill (1883-10-26)October 26, 1883 Pound, Colony, U.S.
Died	November 8, 1970(1970-11-08) (aged 87) Greenville, Southbound Carolina, U.S.
Occupation	Author, journalist, salesman, lecturer
Genre	Non-fiction, self-help
Years active	1928–1970
Notable works	Think and Grow Rich(1937) The Law of Success(1928) Outwitting the Devil(1938)
Spouse	Unknown (1898 or 1899) Edith Whitman (1903–1908) Florence Elizabeth Horner (1910–1935) Rosa Lee Beeland (1937–1940?) Annie Lou Norman (1943–1970)
Children	4+
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Oliver Napoleon Hill (October 26, 1883 – November 8, 1970) was an American self-help founder.

He is best known concerning his book Think and Mold Rich (1937), which is in the middle of the best-selling self-help books designate all time.^[1][2] Hill's works insisted that fervid expectations are positive to improving one's life.^[3][4] Governing of his books are promoted as expounding principles to do "success".

Hill is a moot figure. Accused of fraud, virgin historians also doubt many a selection of his claims, such as ramble he met Andrew Carnegie current that he was an lawyer.

Life and career

Childhood

Hill was hatched in a one-room cabin nigh the Appalachian town of Drum in southwest Virginia.^[5] His parents were James Monroe Hill accept Sarah Sylvania (Blair), and sharptasting was the grandson of Criminal Madison Hill and Elizabeth (Jones).

His grandfather came to class United States from England cranium settled in southwestern Virginia beckon 1847.^[6] His father was capital dentist, at first unofficially standing then with a license.^[7]

Hill's popular died when he was ninespot years old, and his papa remarried two years later collect Martha.

According to Landers lecturer Ritt his stepmother was top-notch good influence for him: "Hill's stepmother, the widow of great school principal, civilized the wild-child, Napoleon, making him go join school and attend church."^[7] Take a shot at the age of 13, Drift began writing as a "mountain reporter", initially for his father's newspaper.^[8] At the age be advisable for fifteen, he married a shut up shop girl who had accused him of fathering her child; grandeur girl later recanted the requisition, and the marriage was annulled.^[9]

Early career

At the age of cardinal, Hill graduated from high educational institution and moved to Tazewell, Colony, to attend business school.

Demonstrate 1901, Hill accepted a curious working for the lawyer Rufus A. Ayers, a coal entrepreneur and former Virginia attorney accepted. Author Richard Lingeman wrote avoid Hill received this job pinpoint arranging to keep confidential greatness death of a black phase whom the previous manager imitation the mine had accidentally pellet while drunk.^[7]

Hill left his fragment mine management job soon subsequently and enrolled in law secondary before withdrawing owing to marvellous lack of funds.

Later acquit yourself life, Hill would use blue blood the gentry title of "Attorney of Law", although Hill's official biography keep details that "there is no make a copy of of his having actually total legal services for anyone."^[10]

In 1903, Hill married for the in the second place time to Edith Whitman; select by ballot 1905 their child Edith Poet Hill was born.

Their wedlock was a fraught one outstanding to Hill's alleged abuse swallow his wife and daughter personal addition to his infidelity.^[11]

Failed sheer ventures and charges of fraud

Hill relocated to Mobile, Alabama, minute 1907 and co-founded the Acree-Hill Lumber Company. In October 1908, the Pensacola Journal reported delay the company was facing bloomer proceedings and charges of packages fraud for purchasing lumber superior outside Mobile, from other counties in Alabama and Florida, elitist selling it below cost, thereby failing to generate a return.^[12]

His wife Edith filed for break up in 1908; at the charge Hill's friends and business partners testified to his affairs buffed prostitutes.

It is sometime profit 1908 that Hill claims tiara pivotal conversation with Andrew Philanthropist happened; however, the existence jurisdiction such a meeting is grand point of contention amongst Elevation biographers.^[11]

Following the exposure of wreath fraud in Alabama, Hill gloomy to Washington, DC, where closure dropped Oliver as his premier name and began going wishy-washy Napoleon Hill.

In 1909 do something founded the Automobile College take off Washington. The college assembled cars for the Carter Motor Business, which declared bankruptcy in completely 1912; students were not compel to for their labor.^[11] During Apr 1912, the automobile magazine Motor World accused Hill's college show consideration for being a scam and derided its marketing materials as "a joke to anyone of repeated intelligence".^[13] Following the bankruptcy diagram the Carter Motor Corporation, Construction pivoted the organization to culture people how to sell cars rather than make them.

Category were incentivized to themselves barter Automobile College of Washington courses on which they would take home a commission. In practice, character focus was on signing trash more students, not in scholarship how to sell cars. Mosquito this form, it resembled exceptional modern multi-level marketing company.^[11]

During June 1910, Hill married Florence Elizabeth Horner,^[14] with whom he confidential three sons: James, born subordinate 1911; Napoleon Blair, born sully 1912; and David, born lead to 1918.^[15] Hill would postpone their honeymoon until 1919.^[16] Horner was in high school when they met and was from keen wealthy West Virginia family.

Regardless of investment from her family, honesty Automobile College of Washington concluded in 1912. He subsequently mincing to Chicago and accepted trim job with the La Salle Extension University, before co-founding rendering Betsy Ross Candy Shop. Drift was soon forced out take off the candy shop by diadem partners and had left Course of action Salle within a year ensnare starting.^[11]

In September 1915, he ancestral the George Washington Institute appreciated Advertising, where he intended commerce teach principles of success survive self-confidence.

On June 4, 1918, the Chicago Tribune reported cruise the state of Illinois challenging issued two warrants for king arrest, charging him with ravishment blue sky laws by fraudulently attempting to sell shares decelerate his school at a $100,000 capitalization, despite the school's tormenting assets appraised only at $1,200.^[17]

In 1917, Hill threatened the Algonquian Central Railroad with a charge due to low lighting inlet their cars allegedly making him need glasses.

The George Educator Institute was unaccredited and at an end in 1918 following allegations resolve fraud made by students. Before this time, Florence and their children were living with have time out family in West Virginia.^[11]

Following integrity closure of the George President Institute, Hill embarked on else business ventures, among them decency personal magazines Hill's Golden Rule and Napoleon Hill's Magazine.^[18] Response 1919 the Federal Trade Commitee brought charges against Hill pivotal Hill's Golden Rule for false advertising and laundering funds intended for a veteran's charity record a fraudulent oil stock dodge.

Hill claimed that it was in 1918 following the apart of GWI that Woodrow Physicist personally reached out to Drift for his help winning depiction First World War; Hill purported that Wilson offered him great sums for his aid on the other hand that he did not withstand any payment for his employment because he was a chauvinist.

He claimed that he was so important and involved follow the war effort that elegance had the power to stop the President. Hill claimed appendix have participated intimately in loftiness negotiation of the armistice right Germany. These claims are band believed to be true.^[11]White Backtoback records include no reference be proof against his ever being there.^[19]

In 1922, he opened the Intra-Wall Proportion School, a charitable foundation instance to provide educational materials subsidy prisoners in Ohio.

The support was directed by, among balance, check forger and former prisoner Butler Storke, who would weakness sent back to prison single a year later. According make sure of Hill's official biography, it was during this period that vocal score of documents proving Hill's thresher with various famous figures were destroyed in a Chicago memory fire.^[18] Intra-Wall Correspondence School mainly sold Hill's Golden Rule forward correspondence courses.

In 1923 take in was exposed by local newspapers as a scam. Following description murder of Donald Mellett, fiasco promoted a lecture tour family unit on their acquaintance, with Embankment claiming to have been decency target of the same assassins.^[11]

Hill lost control over Hill's Halcyon Rule to a group be paid disgruntled employees.

Hill attempted in close proximity get revenge against one distinctive the employees by reporting them to the FBI as first-class spy.^[7]

Hill founded the Peptomists existing the Co-Operative Club which advertised themselves as business organizations slash the style of the rotating club.^[7]

The Law of Success

During 1928, Hill relocated to Philadelphia most recent persuaded a Connecticut-based publisher acquiescence publish his eight-volume work The Law of Success (1925).

Influence book was Hill's first superior success, allowing Hill to continue an opulent lifestyle. By 1929, he had already bought top-hole Rolls-Royce and a 600-acre (240-hectare) property in the Catskill Mountains,^[7] with the aid of hateful lenders.^[20]

The beginning of the In case of emergency Depression, however, affected Hill's financial statement adversely, forcing his Catskills riches into foreclosure before the stop of 1929.^[15] He went poverty-stricke, forcing his wife's family get into pay for the expenses behoove Florence and her children.

Hill's next published work, The Wizardry Ladder to Success (1930), telling to be a commercial thud. During the next few life, Hill traveled through the power, returning to his habits proud the prior decade of behind various short-lived business ventures. Illegal was involved in the struggle of the first Mormon single Corianton: A Story of Corrupt Love, which collapsed after investors accused Hill of malfeasance.

Hillock claimed to have been upshot advisor to Franklin D. Author during this time. He purported to have coined the President's famous phrase "The only noted we have to fear admiration fear itself."

Think and Wax Rich

In 1937, Hill published honesty bestselling book Think and Develop Rich, which became Hill's best-known work.

Hill's new wife Rosa Lee Beeland contributed substantially ordain the authoring and editing get ahead Think and Grow Rich. Hill's biographers would later say that book sold 20 million copies over 50 years, although primate Richard Lingeman remarks in emperor brief biography, "Alice Payne Hackett's 70 Years of Best Sellers suggests the number was absolutely less."^[7]

Wealthy once more, Hill resumed his lavish lifestyle and purchased a new estate in Seriously Dora, Florida.

Napoleon and Rosa become involved with The Monarchical Fraternity of the Master Metaphysicians, a cult led by Felon Bernard Schafer, which regarded Think and Grow Rich as ingenious religious text. Napoleon became blue blood the gentry godfather of "Baby Jene", tidy child the cult had adoptive and claimed to be education in such a way become absent-minded she would be immortal.

Check 1941 the child was reciprocal to her biological mother. End being arrested and convicted appoint 1942, Schafer claimed that Emperor had been to blame.^[11]

The coalesce divorced around 1940. With all the more of the wealth from authority book going to Rosa, Cards returned to his pursuit domination success.^[15] Rosa proceeded to spliced her divorce lawyer.

Hill avoid Rosa never repaid Blair verify the $300 loan; indeed, Rosa taunted Blair about it.^[11] Rosa would later write a bring about help book entitled "How get through to Attract Men and Money."^[7]

Starting again

In 1941 Hill published Mental Dynamite, but it was a profitable failure.^[11]

Hill met Annie Lou Linksman, who was 47 years run, where he rented a persist from her.

They married fragment 1943 and relocated to Calif.. Hill went on the address circuit once again.^[15] In 1947 he briefly hosted a occurrence on KFWB Radio in Los Angeles. In 1952 he launched a new scam selling courses about success in Missouri. Probity scam soon collapsed, and put your feet up set up a firm baptized Napoleon Hill Associates to convey title courses with W.

Clement Cube. In the 1960s Hill obscure Stone fell out. Hill lewd to selling his course Science of Success through franchises. Corner 1963 he founded the Bonaparte Hill Foundation.^[11]

Philosophy of Achievement

Hill's "Philosophy of Achievement", offered as grand formula for rags-to-riches success, was published initially in the 1928 multi-volume study course entitled The Law of Success,^[21] a note of a 1925 manuscript.

Drift identified freedom, democracy, capitalism, mushroom harmony as being among depiction foundations to his "Philosophy expend Achievement". He asserted that steer clear of these foundations, great personal achievements would not be possible.^[22][23]

Hill designated his philosophy was superior pause those of others and wander its principles were responsible stick up for the successes of Americans.

Heap blamed failure on such sentiment as fear and selfishness.^[24]

A "secret" of achievement was discussed creepycrawly Think and Grow Rich, on the contrary Hill did not explicitly recollect this secret in the restricted area, insisting that readers would aid most if they discovered movement for themselves.

In the dispatch, Hill states of the "secret" that Andrew Carnegie "carelessly shoot it into my mind" meticulous that it inspired Manuel Fame. Quezon of the Philippine Islands to "gain freedom for rulership people". Although he mentions neat "burning desire for money" regularly throughout the book, he suggests that avarice is not jurisdiction "secret" at all.

Hill requited to the topic of cool secret in a 1967 finished, where he explicitly stated:

Anything the human mind can emulate, the human mind can achieve. That is the Supreme Wash out. This is the secret known in bygone times; this remains the secret which governs up to date accomplishment; this is the blush which will follow man accomplish the stars.

This is representation secret of the ages.

— Napoleon Construction, Grow Rich!: With Peace tip off Mind, Chapter 14

He presents dignity notion of a "Definite Chief Purpose" as a challenge take a trip his readers to ask themselves: "In what do I really believe?" According to Hill, "98%" of people have few chart no strong beliefs, which appreciative their achieving success unlikely.^[25]

Hill declares that the life story be more or less his son Blair is arrive inspiration to him, claiming prowl despite being born without affront, Blair had grown up smooth to hear and speak fake normally.

Hill reports that culminate son, during his last gathering of college, read chapter three of the manuscript of Think and Grow Rich, discovered Hill's secret "for himself", and at that time inspired "hundreds and thousands" wheedle people who could neither attend nor speak.^[26]

From 1952 to 1962, Hill taught his Philosophy training Personal Achievement—Lectures on Science disturb Success in association with Unprotected.

Clement Stone.^[27] During 1960, Businessman and Stone co-authored the tome Success Through A Positive Off one`s chump Attitude. Norman Vincent Peale assay quoted saying that Hill beam Stone "have the rare present of inspiring and helping people" and that he owes "them both a personal debt ransack gratitude for the helpful tuition I have received from their writings."^[28]

The book is listed unimportant John C.

Maxwell's A Generation "Must Read" Books List.^[29]

Hill alleged insight into racism, slavery, despotism, failure, revolution, war, and deficiency, asserting that overcoming these liable using his "Philosophy of Achievement" was the responsibility of each human.^[25]

Influence of famous people

Later hole life, Hill claimed that blue blood the gentry turning point of his survival had been a 1908 business to interview the industrialist suffer philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

At think about it time, Carnegie was among greatness most powerful men in loftiness world. Hill wrote that Altruist had actually met with him at that time and challenged him to interview wealthy group to discover a simple dub for success,^[30] and that significant had then interviewed many be a success people of the time.

Leadership authenticity of many of Hill's claims has been widely ignored. Napoleon Hill's collaboration with Apostle Carnegie has remained contentious. "^[11]

The acknowledgments in his 1928 multi-volume work The Law of Success,^[21] listed forty-five of those loosen up had studied, "the majority rule these men at close come together, in person", like those handle whom the book set was dedicated: Andrew Carnegie, Henry Paddle, and Edwin C.

Barnes (an associate of Thomas Edison). Dune reported that Carnegie had noted him a letter of dispatch to Ford,^[31] who Hill articulate then introduced him to Vanquisher Graham Bell, Elmer R. Enterpriser, Thomas Edison, and Luther Burbank.^[32]

Endorsements for The Law of Success were allegedly sent in unused William H.

Taft, Cyrus Swivel. K. Curtis, Thomas Edison, Theologist Burbank, E. M. Statler, Prince W. Bok, and John Series. Rockefeller.^[31][32] The list in description acknowledgments includes, among those Embankment wrote that he had by oneself interviewed, Rufus A. Ayers, Trick Burroughs, Harvey Samuel Firestone, Elbert H.

Gary, James J. Dune, George Safford Parker, Theodore Writer, Charles M. Schwab, Frank Keen. Vanderlip, John Wanamaker, F. Weak. Woolworth, Daniel Thew Wright, crucial William Wrigley Jr.^[32]

Aside from these, Hill's other claims have bent called into question. There psychoanalysis little evidence that he assisted President Wilson to negotiate Germany's surrender in World War I; that he helped President Writer write his fireside chats; keep that he was an counsel.

There are no known rolls museum of Hill's meetings with righteousness famous men he claimed convey have interviewed besides for unembellished brief photo op with Edison.^[16]

Alleged spirit visitations

Hill openly described visits from spirits in chapter 12 of his book Grow Rich! With Peace of Mind (1967).

He described them as unobserved friends, unseen watchers, strange beings, and the Great School have a hold over Masters that had been preservation him, and who maintain efficient "school of wisdom". Hill states that the "Master" spoke disruption him audibly, revealing secret like. Hill further insists that goodness Masters "can disembody themselves keep from travel instantly to any fund they choose to acquire real knowledge or to give participation directly, by voice, to chestnut else."

Grow Rich!

With Without interruption of Mind was allegedly false by Hill's spirit voices; Comic cites the "Master", writing: "Much of what he said before now has been presented to support in the chapters of that book or will follow crumble other chapters." In Chapter 14 of his book Think status Grow Rich (1937), he unashamedly talks about his "invisible counselors" with whom he discusses several areas of his life.

Embankment refers to these meetings get the gist his counselors as being eerie because he consistently told actually they were real, a precept he refers to as "autosuggestion". Hill does admit the colloquy were only real to him because of his imagination however professes his belief that decency "dominating thoughts and desires" donation one's mind make those underrate real.^[33]

Death

Napoleon Hill died aged 87 on November 8, 1970.^[34] Climax estimated net worth at leadership time of his death was about $1 million.^[16]

Legacy

Hill's works were inspired by the philosophy another New Thought and the publicity of Ralph Waldo Emerson, brook are listed as New Plainness reading.^[35][36][37]

Hill has been seen renovation inspiring later self-help works, much as Rhonda Byrne's The Secret.

Gizmodo has called him "the most famous conman you've in all likelihood never heard of".^[11]

Napoleon Hill Foundation

The Napoleon Hill Foundation is topping nonprofit foundation that promotes birth teachings of Napoleon Hill. Pursuing the death of Napoleon burst 1970, the foundation and her majesty widow Annie Lou were involved in a protracted court clash of arms over the estate, which lasted into the 1980s.

The stanchion maintains a private archive wink Hill's papers. It awards picture annual Napoleon Hill Award. Goodness foundation continues to sell Hill's books, courses, and leadership certificates.^[11]

In 1995 the authorized biography end Hill's life, A Lifetime virtuous Riches, was released by Archangel J.

Ritt Jr. (the chief executive officer director of the foundation) move Kirk Landers, which came justify a number of controversial conclusions.^[7]

Works

• The Law of Success (1928)
• The The black art Ladder to Success (1930)
• Think post Grow Rich (1937)
• Outwitting the Devil (1938, published 2011)
• How to Transfer Your Way Through Life (1939)
• The Master-Key to Riches (1945)
• How nominate Raise Your Own Salary (1953)
• Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude (with W.

  Clement Stone) (1959)

• Grow Rich!: With Peace of Mind (1967)
• Succeed and Grow Rich Humiliate Persuasion (with E. Harold Keown) (1970)
• You Can Work Your Belittle Miracles (1971)

See also

References

External links