what is captain of industry

A captain of industry is a term used to describe a business leader who owns or manages a large, successful business or company. In the 19th century, the term referred to business leaders whose means of amassing a personal fortune contributed positively to the country in some way, such as through increased productivity, expansion of markets, or providing more jobs. Some 19th-century industrialists who were called “captains of industry” overlap with those called “robber barons” . Nowadays, the term is used more broadly to describe successful businesspeople who have an important job in industry and can influence decisions made by companies or a government.