Samuel Clement dating history

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Captain Samuel Clement began life as a sailor before the mast on one of John Jacob Astor's boats. Mr. Astor's ventures in China were sometimes exceedingly fortunate. A fair profit of a voyage to China in that day was $30,000. Mr. Astor had been known to gain $70,000 and have his money in pocket before the end of the year. He was remarkably lucky in the War of 1812. All his ships escaped capture and arriving at a time when foreign commerce was almost annihilated and tea doubled in price, his gains were so immense that that a million or more lost in other enterprises did not give him a moment's inconvenience. From a sailor, Samuel Clement rapidly rose to the position of purser, and after a few years had saved sufficient money to establish a business in New York. When Livingston and Fulton needed someone to put in charge of their steamboat, which was to defy the currents of the Mississippi, they finally determined to put Samuel Clement in command."