Early Life and Career
Elliott was born in Marysville, Kansas, and later moved to San Antonio, Texas. He entered the accounting field in the mid 1890s and worked primarily in executive positions for railroad companies in Central America and Mexico. In 1903, Elliott married Mary Elizabeth Fitzpatrick (1869–1941), who accompanied him during his extended time working as an expatriate in Mexico. Civil unrest there brought the couple back to the United States and eventually to a residence in New York City, where Elliott started a successful consulting business. In 1924, the United States Department of State appointed Elliott to the post of Chief Accountant for Nicaragua (which at the time was under American control). Not long afterward, Elliott wrote two books based upon his professional experiences: Tea Room and Cafeteria Management and The Future of Latin America.
During his time in Central America, Elliott contracted a debilitating intestinal illness, which forced him into early retirement at age fifty-eight. About this time, he decided to dedicate himself to the study of the behavior of the American stock market.
Read more about this topic: Ralph Nelson Elliott
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