Amazon.com description: Product Description: Edward Williamson Atkinson (1827-1905) made interesting, and in many cases significant, contributions to the economic and political history of the United States. As treasurer and financial agent for several important cotton textile mills between 1850 and 1878, Mr. Atkinson became generally recognized as an authority upon the various phases of the cotton industry. Atkinson was a consistent advocate of sound money as a basis of honest commercial practice. He was a consistent free trader, Pacifist and anti-imperialist, and was the author of a variety of books and pamphlets. He was the subject of two biographies: Edward Atkinson - the Biography of an American Liberal - 1827-1905 - a Life Record of Many Historical Events Covering the Last Half of the Nineteenth Century by Harold Francis Williamson (introduced by the noted economist F. W. Taussig) and Edward Atkinson (1827-1905) Patron of Engineering Science and Benefactor of Industry by Marshal B. Dalton.