Starting at the age of fifteen, he helped manage a small general store founded by his father, the owner of a cotton-manufacturing company.

[6] In 1848, when political unrest in Europe depreciated the market in precious stones, Tiffany invested heavily in diamonds, which were sold at a great profit a few years later.

[8] He served a diverse clientele that included U.S. presidents such as Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, as well as prominent American families.

[10] Tiffany was publicly embarrassed in an 1872 diamond and gemstone hoax perpetrated by Philip Arnold that cost investors more than half a million dollars.

[citation needed] As Broadway shows became more popular, Tiffany collaborated with Thomas Edison on footlights and other devices for theater lighting.

The firm acquired and sold some of the French Crown Jewels in 1887, solidifying its reputation as merchants of high quality.