60-503: John Galt ( / ɡ ɔː l t / ) is a character in Ayn Rand 's novel Atlas Shrugged (1957). Although he is not identified by name until the last third of the novel, he is the object of its often-repeated question "Who is John Galt?" and of the quest to discover the answer. Also, in the later part it becomes clear that Galt had been present in the book's plot all along, playing several important roles though not identified by name. As
120-475: A Literary and Debating Society . In early 1804, at the Tontine Hotel , this hosted James Hogg , who described the discussion as "much above what I had ever been accustomed to hear". Though seemingly doing well, Galt "felt at Greenock as if I was never in my proper element", and was restless about "the narrowness of my prospects". Incensed by an abusive letter, he pursued its author to Leith and got
180-655: A sextant on local hills in 1794. It was usual in Greenock for lads starting careers in commerce to first improve their penmanship by copying entries in the books of the custom house , so Galt and Park were "desked" there for a few months. At the age of 17, Galt became a junior clerk at a Greenock firm of merchants . He was a "voracious reader" using the town's subscription library . With his friends, he went long walks, wrote essays and stories, some of which were published in Constable 's The Scots Magazine , and founded
240-479: A conservative attorney, but did claim some inspiration came from her husband, Frank O'Connor . Author Justin Raimondo has found parallels between Atlas Shrugged and The Driver , a 1922 novel by Garet Garrett . Garrett's novel has a main character named Henry M. Galt. This Galt is an entrepreneur who takes over a failing railway, turning it into a productive and profitable asset for the benefit of himself and
300-540: A double major in physics and philosophy , and after graduating, he becomes an engineer at the Twentieth Century Motor Company, where he designs a revolutionary new motor powered by ambient static electricity . When the company owner dies and his heirs decide to run the factory by the collectivist maxim, " From each according to his ability, to each according to his need ", Galt refuses to work there any longer and abandons his motor. During
360-406: A lengthy speech that explains what he sees to be the irrationality of collectivism and offers his own philosophy (Ayn Rand's Objectivism ) as an alternative. Galt speaks against what he sees as the evil of collectivism and the idea that individuals must be responsible for each other, and says that should be replaced by voluntary association and adherence to rational self-interest . Seeking Galt after
420-526: A lifetime friend of his schoolfellow Henry Eckford . Around 1789, Galt's father owned and commanded a West Indiaman trading with Jamaica , and had a house built in Greenock. The family settled there, and at school Galt became close friends with classmates William Spence , a budding mathematician, and James Park, who spurred Galt's enthusiasm for writing and poetry. Their education, well suited to commerce , covered penmanship, arithmetic, French, geography, astronomy and mathematics, including navigation using
480-425: A number of drawings of Galt in the section discussing Atlas Shrugged . From 2011 to 2014, a movie adaptation of Atlas Shrugged was released in three parts. A different actor portrayed Galt in each film. In Atlas Shrugged: Part I , director Paul Johansson played the role, albeit with limited screen time and in shadow. Actor D. B. Sweeney took over the role for Atlas Shrugged: Part II , released in 2012. For
540-443: A number of school texts under the pseudonym Reverend T. Clark. Around 1821 he moved his family from Greenock to Eskgrove near Musselburgh . In addition to moving his residence frequently during this period, Galt also switched publishers several times, moving from Blackwood's Magazine to Oliver and Boyd and then back again. In 1821 Annals of the parish was published as were two instalments of The steam boat and he started work on
600-621: A play on the phrase, using "Who is Ron Paul?" on campaign T-shirts; his web site biography uses the same title. In August 1988, the Louisiana business lobbyist and columnist Edward J. Steimel referred to the United States Congress and the liberal majority elected in 1986 in the last two years of the administration of US President Ronald W. Reagan as "the John Galt Congress". Steimel objected to an increase in
660-443: A retired film star . Considered a misfit by Galt's other adherents, he views his actions as a means to speed the world along in understanding Galt's perspective. According to Barbara Branden , who was closely associated with Rand at the time the book was written, there were sections written describing Danneskjöld's adventures at sea, cut from the final published text. In a 1974 comment at a lecture, Rand said that Danneskjöld's name
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#1732772524186720-736: A subsequent trip to Europe, where he was commissioned by a merchant firm to establish trade agreements, Galt met and befriended Lord Byron in Gibraltar . He traveled with Byron and his companion, John Hobhouse, 1st Baron Broughton , to Malta . He met them again in Greece. Parting company, Galt continued alone to Constantinople , Adrianople and then Sofia . He returned to Greenock via Ireland. He then embarked to London to pursue business plans, but these did not come to fruition and he took to writing. Galt wrote an account of his travels, which met with moderate success. Decades later, he would also publish
780-1159: A town he also founded in 1827. Later that year, he co-founded the town of Goderich with Tiger Dunlop . The community of Galt, Ontario , was named after him. During his tenure with the Canada Company, Galt ran afoul of several colonial authorities, including Sir Peregrine Maitland , who was Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada at the time. He was heavily criticised by his employers for his lack of basic accounting skills and failure to carry out their established policies. This resulted in his dismissal and recall to Great Britain in 1829. Soon after his return to Great Britain, he spent several months in King's Bench Prison for failure to pay debts. One of Galt's last novels, The Member , has political corruption as its central theme. In 1831 he moved to Barn Cottage in Old Brompton . Galt's three sons returned to Canada in 1833. The eldest, John Jr., would be appointed Collector of Customs and Registrar of Deeds and Goderich and become part of
840-406: A town secluded in a Colorado mountain valley, based on Ouray, Colorado . Galt had been deeply in love with Dagny for years, but knew he could not reveal himself until she would be ready to join his strike. On one night he was struggling with the temptation to knock on her door but restrained himself – and she saw his shadow, but not himself. Dagny herself had always had a concept of an ideal man "at
900-637: A type of self-made man and eventually divorces Lillian, abandons his steel mills following a bloody assault by government-planted workers, and joins John Galt's strike. Edwin "Eddie" Willers is the Special Assistant to the vice-president in Charge of Operations at Taggart Transcontinental. His father and grandfather worked for the Taggarts, and himself likewise. He is completely loyal to Dagny and to Taggart Transcontinental. Willers does not possess
960-483: A written apology, then on return told his father and the merchants' firm he intended to quit Greenock. Galt made preparations and, accompanied by his father, took post chaise and mail coach to London in May 1804. Letters of introduction got him, at most, dinner invitations. In 1805 he used an advance of his father's patrimony to fund a partnership with a factor. In 1809 he began studying law at Lincoln's Inn . During
1020-622: Is also one of the group of looters who tries to get Rearden to agree to the Steel Unification Plan. Ferris hosts the demonstration of the Project X weapon, and is the creator of the Ferris Persuader, a torture machine. When John Galt is captured by the looters, Ferris uses the device on Galt, but it breaks down before extracting the information Ferris wants from Galt. Ferris represents the group which uses brute force on
1080-654: Is engraved with the Scots language words "birr and smeddum" (vigour and liveliness ) quoting his 1821 book Annals of the Parish . The city of Galt, Ontario was named after John Galt, but was absorbed into Cambridge, Ontario in 1973. His original home in Guelph, known as the "Priory" (built 1827-1828), stood on the banks of the Speed River near the current River Run Centre for performing arts. The building later became
1140-536: Is given a senior position at the Bureau of Economic Planning and National Resources. Later in the novel he becomes its Top Co-ordinator, a position that eventually becomes Economic Dictator of the country. Mouch's mantra, whenever a problem arises from his prior policy, is to say, "I can't help it. I need wider powers." The following secondary characters also appear in the novel. John Galt (novelist) John Galt ( / ɡ ɔː l t / ; 2 May 1779 – 11 April 1839)
1200-497: Is responsible for all the workings of the railroad. Francisco d'Anconia is one of the central characters in Atlas Shrugged , an owner by inheritance of the world's largest copper mining operation. He is a childhood friend, and the first love, of Dagny Taggart. A child prodigy of exceptional talents, Francisco was dubbed the "climax" of the d'Anconia line, an already prestigious Argentine family of skilled industrialists. He
1260-498: Is the primary male hero of Atlas Shrugged . He initially appears as an unnamed menial worker for Taggart Transcontinental, who often dines with Eddie Willers in the employees' cafeteria, and leads Eddie to reveal important information about Dagny Taggart and Taggart Transcontinental. Only Eddie's side of their conversations is given in the novel. Later in the novel, the reader discovers this worker's true identity. Before working for Taggart Transcontinental, Galt worked as an engineer for
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#17327725241861320-627: Is used to blackmail Rearden to sign a Gift Certificate which delivers all the property rights of Rearden Metal to others. Lillian thereafter uses James Taggart for sexual satisfaction, until Hank abandons her. Ferris is a biologist who works as "co-ordinator" at the State Science Institute. He uses his position there to deride reason and productive achievement, and publishes a book entitled Why Do You Think You Think? He clashes on several occasions with Hank Rearden, and twice attempts to blackmail Rearden into giving up Rearden Metal. He
1380-706: The Atlantic on the man-of-war HMS Romney , arriving at New York City and then traveling by road. Sadly, soon after arriving, word was sent that his mother had suffered a stroke. He returned to her (in Musselburgh) in 1826 and she died a few months later. He returned to Canada in 1826. While in Canada, Galt lived in York in Upper Canada (now Ontario ), but located the headquarters of the Canada Company at Guelph ,
1440-703: The Colborne Clique . His youngest son Alexander became one of the fathers of Confederation and Canada's first minister of finance . Despite failing health (following a trip over a tree root whilst in Canada), Galt was involved in another colonial business venture, the British American Land Company , which was formed to develop lands in the Eastern Townships of Lower Canada (now Quebec ). Galt served as secretary but
1500-524: The Fountain of Youth . After eventually joining Galt's cause, Taggart learns that all of the stories have an element of truth to them. She names the Colorado spur of her railroad line the "John Galt Line" which surprises many people. When asked "Who is John Galt?", she replies "We are!" "The book's hero, John Galt, also continues to live on", wrote journalist Harriet Rubin in a September 2007 article about
1560-592: The Royal Caledonian Asylum in London. He also privately consulted in several business ventures. Galt started to submit articles to Blackwood's Magazine in late 1819, and in March 1829 he sent Blackwood the publishers the plan for "The Ayrshire legatees". Concentrating on his writing for the next several years, Galt lived at times in London, Glasgow , Edinburgh and elsewhere, writing fiction and
1620-608: The minimum wage , a measure which he said would "wreak havoc with the very individuals it is designed to help most – new entrants into the work force and new minority workers in particular". Steimel described the public as uninformed people who merely shrug their shoulders and ask "Who is John Galt?" whenever they are questioned about the grip of expanded government on their lives and liberty. In 2009, For Beginners, LLC released Ayn Rand for Beginners by Andrew Bernstein as part of its ... For Beginners graphic nonfiction comic book series. The illustrations by Own Brozman included
1680-532: The 2014 release of Part III , the role was again recast, this time with Kristoffer Polaha . Characters in Atlas Shrugged This is a list of characters in Ayn Rand 's 1957 novel Atlas Shrugged . The following are major characters from the novel. Dagny Taggart is the protagonist of the novel. She is vice president in charge of operations for Taggart Transcontinental, under her brother, James Taggart. Given James' incompetence, Dagny
1740-659: The Barbarian , used a villain named John Galt in the tale "Black Talons" in 1933. The Galt character has been compared to various iconic figures from literature and history. In the novel itself, he is compared with Prometheus from the Greek myths. English literature scholar Mimi Reisel Gladstein sees similarities to the figures of Arthur and Galahad from the Arthurian legends. Parallels have also been drawn to Captain Nemo ,
1800-591: The French novels La Vallée Mystérieuse and Le Petit Roi d'Ys . Rand also owned a copy of a 1940 novel with characters named Jed and John Peter Galt. There was a 19th-century Scottish novelist of the same name, but Milgram says that any connection to the character is "highly unlikely". Milgram also notes that the name Rand originally picked for her character was Iles Galt. At least two real people of Rand's acquaintance have been suggested as partial inspirations for Galt. Rand denied any connection to her friend John Gall,
1860-728: The Old Greenock Cemetery or Inverkip Street Cemetery). In Greenock, John Galt is commemorated by the John Galt memorial fountain on the Esplanade, and by a plaque at the old cemetery where he is buried. Sheltered housing (for seniors) built next to the cemetery in 1988, on the site of the old Greenock Royal Infirmary , is named John Galt House in his honour. He is also commemorated in Makars' Court , outside The Writers' Museum, Lawnmarket, Edinburgh. The paving slab
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1920-423: The Twentieth Century Motor Company, where he secretly invented a generator of usable electric energy from ambient static electricity, but abandoned his prototype, and his employment, when dissatisfied by an easily corrupted novel system of payment. This prototype was found by Dagny Taggart and Hank Rearden. Galt himself remains concealed throughout much of the novel, working a job and living by himself, where he unites
1980-583: The anti-hero of Jules Verne 's 1870 novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas , who has likewise turned his back on "civilization" in self-imposed exile with a number of chosen allies, refusing to partake in a society he views as irreconcilably evil and oppressive. Galt is not necessarily intended to be a rounded or realistic character; he has been called "more a symbol than a person" and "two-dimensional". Mimi Reisel Gladstein describes Galt as "more icon than character". Rand's own notes indicate that she expected
2040-448: The character to have "[n]o progression" and "no inner conflict" because he was "integrated (indivisible) and perfect". The book's opening line, "Who is John Galt?", becomes an expression of helplessness and despair at the current state of the novel's fictionalized world. The book's protagonist, Dagny Taggart, hears a number of legends of Galt, before finding him. In one legend Galt seeks the lost island of Atlantis , in another he discovers
2100-683: The creative ability of Galt's associates, but matches them in moral courage and is capable of appreciating and making use of their creations. After Dagny shifts her attention and loyalty to saving the captive Galt, Willers maintains the railroad until its collapse. One of Galt's first followers, and world-famous as a pirate , who seizes relief ships sent from the United States to the People's States of Europe. He works to ensure that once those espousing Galt's philosophy are restored to their rightful place in society, they have enough capital to rebuild
2160-612: The departure of three of his sons to Canada. Finding the accommodation unsuitable he lived temporarily in Gourock before moving in December 1834 to a more comfortable house, sited in central Greenock on Westburn Street, at its corner with West Blackhall Street. He stayed there with his wife and sister. Galt died on 11 April 1839, and was buried in the family tomb of his parents in the New Burying Ground in Greenock (now called
2220-410: The end of the railway", and her other lovers – Francisco D'Anconia and Hank Rearden – did not fit this image, however much she loved and respected both of them. While in the valley, Dagny develops a romantic relationship with Galt, although it remains physically unconsummated – which is linked to her refusing to join the strike. After she returns home to New York, Galt takes over the airwaves, delivering
2280-615: The epitome of human evil, as the "man who knew better" but chose not to act for the good. The incompetent and treacherous lobbyist whom Hank Rearden reluctantly employs in Washington , who rises to prominence and authority throughout the novel through trading favours and disloyalty. In return for betraying Hank by helping broker the Equalization of Opportunity Bill (which, by restricting the number of businesses each person may own to one, forces Hank to divest most of his companies), he
2340-480: The first Canadian Pacific Railway station in the city; the conversion was completed in 1888. The building was no longer required by the Canadian Pacific Railway which built a new station in 1910. A photograph from 1914 depicts it as boarded up. In spite of attempts by various individuals in Guelph to save the structure, it was torn down in 1926. A historical plaque commemorates Galt's role with
2400-726: The first full biography of Lord Byron. He also published the first biography of the painter Benjamin West , The Life and Studies of Benjamin West (1816, expanded 1820). In 1813, Galt attempted to establish a Gibraltarian trading company, in order to circumvent Napoleon 's embargo on British trade; however, Wellington 's victory in Spain made this no longer necessary. Galt then returned to London and married Elizabeth Tilloch, daughter of Alexander Tilloch . They had three boys, John Galt Jr (1814–1866), Thomas Galt (1815–1901), and Alexander Tilloch Galt (1817–1893). In 1815, he became Secretary of
2460-489: The first half of the 19th century; it was later called "the most important single attempt at settlement in Canadian history". In 1829, Galt was recalled to Great Britain for mismanagement of the Canada Company (particularly incompetent bookkeeping), and was later jailed for failing to pay his son's tuition. Galt's Autobiography , published in London in 1833, includes a discussion of his life and work in Upper Canada. He
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2520-417: The heroes to achieve the ends of the looters. A former professor at Patrick Henry University, and along with colleague Hugh Akston, mentor to Francisco d'Anconia, John Galt and Ragnar Danneskjöld. He has since become a sell-out, one who had great promise but squandered it for social approval, to the detriment of the free. He works at the State Science Institute where all his inventions are perverted for use by
2580-659: The influence of Atlas Shrugged . Rubin mentions John Galt Solutions (a software company) and the John Galt Corporation (a demolition company) as examples of companies named after the character. The use of Galt as a symbol in the context of political or social protest has taken root in some places. "Who is John Galt?" signs were seen at Tea Party protests held in the United States and at banking protests in London in April 2009. Texas Republican congressman Ron Paul 's presidential primary campaign of 2008 included
2640-435: The main storyline of the book, Galt has secretly organized a strike by the world's creative leaders, including inventors, artists and businessmen, in an effort to "stop the motor of the world" and bring about the collapse of the bureaucratic society. While working incognito as a laborer for Taggart Transcontinental railroad, he travels to visit the key figures that he has not yet recruited, systematically persuading them to join
2700-467: The military, including a sound-based weapon known as Project X (Xylophone). He is killed when Cuffy Meigs (see below) drunkenly overloads the circuits of Project X, causing it to destroy itself and every structure and living thing in a 100-mile radius. The character was, in part, modeled on J. Robert Oppenheimer , whom Rand had interviewed for an earlier project, and his part in the creation of nuclear weapons . To his former student Galt, Stadler represents
2760-580: The most skillful inventors and business leaders under his leadership. He delivers a lengthy broadcast speech that presents the author's philosophy of Objectivism . Henry (known as "Hank") Rearden is one of the central characters in Atlas Shrugged . He owns the most important steel company in the United States, and invents Rearden Metal, an alloy stronger, lighter, cheaper and tougher than steel. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife Lillian, his brother Philip, and his elderly mother. Rearden represents
2820-432: The name of social egalitarianism , which the novel posits is the result of collectivist philosophy. The novel unfolds Galt's story in a progressive retrospective, with Galt, the son of an Ohio garage mechanic, leaving home at age twelve and beginning college at the fictional Patrick Henry University at age sixteen. There he meets Francisco d'Anconia and Ragnar Danneskjöld , who become his two closest friends. Galt takes
2880-614: The novel Sir André Wylie . Annals of the parish established Galt's reputation overnight. Sir Andrew Wylie was published in 1822. In 1824, Galt was appointed secretary of the Canada Company , a charter company established to aid in the colonization of the Huron Tract in Upper Canada along the eastern shore of Lake Huron . After the company was incorporated by royal charter on 19 August 1826, Galt traveled across
2940-433: The plot unfolds, Galt is acknowledged to be a philosopher and inventor; he believes in the power and glory of the human mind, and the rights of individuals to use their minds solely for themselves. He serves as a highly individualistic counterpoint to the collectivist social and economic structure depicted in the novel, in which society is based on oppressive bureaucratic functionaries and a culture that embraces mediocrity in
3000-807: The railroad, but nonetheless opposes her in almost every endeavor because of his various anti-capitalist moral and political beliefs. In a sense, he is the antithesis of Dagny. This contradiction leads to the recurring absurdity of his life: the desire to overcome those on whom his life depends, and the horror that he will succeed at this. In the final chapters of the novel, he suffers a complete mental breakdown upon realizing that he can no longer deceive himself in this respect. The unsupportive wife of Hank Rearden, who dislikes his habits and (secretly at first) seeks to ruin Rearden to prove her own value. Lillian achieves this, when she passes information to James Taggart about her husband's affair with his sister. This information
3060-502: The rest of the nation. The general population and government turn against him instead of celebrating his success. Raimondo also notes that in The Driver , some characters ask, "Who is Henry M. Galt?", similar to the question "Who is John Galt?" that plays an important role in Atlas Shrugged . Rand is not the only famous author to invent a character with this name. Pulp fiction author Robert E. Howard , creator of heroes such as Conan
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#17327725241863120-408: The speech, Dagny accidentally leads the authorities to him, and he is arrested. She and the strikers rescue Galt as the government tortures him. They return to Galt's Gulch and prepare to rebuild the rest of the world, as the collapse of the incompetent government nears. Literature professor Shoshana Milgram traces the origins of the character to adventure stories that Rand read as a child, including
3180-444: The strike. This strike is not revealed immediately within the story, but forms the backdrop of the novel as a mystery which protagonist Dagny Taggart seeks to uncover, with Galt as her antagonist . She calls him "The Destroyer" and regards him as her arch-enemy, on one occasion seeing a door which just closed and realizing he had been in the room ahead of her. The strikers have created their own secret enclave known as "Galt's Gulch",
3240-414: The world. Kept in the background for much of the book, Danneskjöld makes a personal appearance to encourage Rearden to persevere in his increasingly difficult situation, and gives him a bar of gold as compensation for the income taxes he has paid over the last several years. Danneskjöld is married to the actress Kay Ludlow; their relationship is kept hidden from the outside world, which only knows of Ludlow as
3300-550: Was a Scottish novelist , entrepreneur, and political and social commentator. Galt has been called the first political novelist in the English language, due to being the first novelist to deal with issues of the Industrial Revolution . Galt was the first superintendent of the Canada Company (1826–1829). The company was formed to populate a part of what is now Southern Ontario (then known as Upper Canada ) in
3360-402: Was a classmate of John Galt and Ragnar Danneskjöld and student of both Hugh Akston and Robert Stadler. He began working while still in school to show that he could have been successful without the aid of his family's wealth. Later, Francisco bankrupts the d'Anconia business to put it out of others' reach. His full name is given as "Francisco Domingo Carlos Andres Sebastián d'Anconia". John Galt
3420-579: Was a tribute to Victor Hugo's novel Hans of Iceland , wherein the hero becomes the first of the Counts of Danneskjöld. In the published book, Danneskjöld is always seen through the eyes of others (Dagny Taggart or Hank Rearden), except for a brief paragraph in the very last chapter. The President of Taggart Transcontinental and the book's most important antagonist. Taggart is an expert influence peddler but incapable of making operational decisions on his own. He relies on his sister, Dagny Taggart, to actually run
3480-559: Was forced to resign in December 1832 because of his health. By this stage his spinal injury was not only crippling him but also affecting his speech and handwriting. In 1834 he moved to Edinburgh following the publishing of his two-volume Autobiography in 1833. Galt here met the travel writer Harriet Pigott . Pigott persuaded Galt to edit her Records of Real Life in the Palace and the Cottage . She received some criticism for this as it
3540-520: Was suspected that she was just taking advantage of Galt. However, her unfinished biography of him which is in the Bodleian Library implies that it was more of mutual respect than her critics allowed. Records of Real Life in the Palace and the Cottage had an introduction by Galt, and this three-volume work was published in 1839. He retired to his old home in Greenock in August 1834 following
3600-563: Was the father of Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt of Montreal , Quebec. Born on 2 May 1779 in the seaport of Irvine in Ayrshire, Galt was the son of a shipmaster and trader . Every year, Galt's whole family moved seasonally to Greenock . He grew up tall but rather delicate, and spent a lot of time listening to the "marvellous narrations" of some elderly women who lived in the close behind his grandmother's house. After tutoring at home, he joined Irvine Grammar public school in 1787, becoming
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