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Henry Rearden was born in 1971. By the age of 14, he had his first paying job, in an [[iron ore]] mine. At 24, he was its superintendent. Six years later, he bought it when it was about to close.

Henry Rearden was born in 1971. By the age of 14, he had his first paying job, in an [[iron ore]] mine. At 24, he was its superintendent. Six years later, he bought it when it was about to close.

Five years later, he bought a run-down [[steel]] plant near [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]] and put his name on it. By then he also owned his own [[coal] mine and thus had complete control of a steel mill and of all the raw materials he would need. Then began a rapid rise to prominence. He little suspected the exaltation—and the pain—that his venture would bring him.

Five years later, he bought a run-down [[steel]] plant near [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]] and put his name on it. By then he also owned his own [[coal]] mine and thus had complete control of a steel mill and of all the raw materials he would need. Then began a rapid rise to prominence. He little suspected the exaltation—and the pain—that his venture would bring him.

 

== Rearden Metal ==

== Rearden Metal ==

Henry Rearden was not satisfied with the properties of steel as a metal. He always believed that he could create an [[alloy]] superior to conventional steel. The novel never makes clear what caused him to try to make a substitutional alloy of [[copper]] and [[iron]], with interstitial [[carbon]] to harden it. He might have gotten the idea from studying the properties of [[bronze]], the alloy of copper and [[tin]] that had been known since antiquity. Rearden sought, in essence, to use iron instead of tin in combination with copper, and was convinced that that combination, with carbon in its interstices, would be stronger than steel, yet much lighter.

Henry Rearden was not satisfied with the properties of steel as a metal. He always believed that he could create an [[alloy]] superior to conventional steel. The novel never makes clear what caused him to try to make a substitutional alloy of [[copper]] and [[iron]], with interstitial [[carbon]] to harden it. He might have gotten the idea from studying the properties of [[bronze]], the alloy of copper and [[tin]] that had been known since antiquity. Rearden sought, in essence, to use iron instead of tin in combination with copper, and was convinced that that combination, with carbon in its interstices, would be stronger than steel, yet much lighter.