Biography of W.D. Gann
Childhood:
William Delbert Gann, considered one of the foremost analysts of financial markets and a world-renowned American trader, was born on June 6, 1878, in the Lufkin county of Texas as the child of an ordinary farming family. His father was a farmer working in cotton fields. Spending a significant portion of his childhood in cotton fields, Gann began to observe fluctuations in cotton prices and market dynamics. William joined the family business after dropping out of school starting from the 3rd grade, and he became the most prominent among the cotton producers in his small town. His observational skills and mathematical aptitude helped him develop his own special methods for predicting cotton prices. In this period where farming was widespread in every corner of his small town, Gann's greatest interest was in determining cotton prices. The time he spent in cotton fields fueled his interest in commodity markets, and his ability to forecast cotton prices during this period triggered his desire to delve deeper into the complexities of financial markets in the future. Putting great effort into understanding and predicting the fluctuations of cotton prices, Gann increasingly nurtured his interest in commodity markets. His desire to predict changes in cotton prices is considered a step towards understanding the movements of future financial instruments.
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| The Cotton field in Texas. Source of image: The Portal to Texas History |
The observations he gained while
working in cotton fields at a young age propelled Gann towards stepping into the
realm of broader financial markets. These experiences shaped his analytical
thinking style and strengthened his future financial analysis abilities. The
childhood period of William Delbert Gann is significant as it laid the
foundation for his early interest in commodity markets and his observational
skills. The experiences and curiosity he acquired during this time paved the
way for his great success in the field of financial analysis in the future.
Being born as the son of a cotton farmer was just one of the initial steps that
shaped his future interests and abilities.
Business
life, Forecasting Skills and Achievements:
As Gann
grew older and desired to immerse himself further in the financial world, he
moved to New York at the age of 24 and began working at a brokerage firm. In
1902, at a young age, he took his first step into financial trading. Gann's
interests extended beyond just financial matters; he also had a spiritual side.
He had a profound interest in the Holy Bible and considered it the greatest
guide in his life. Gann was not only involved in analyzing financial markets
but also had a fascination with the wisdom of ancient civilizations. His
studies of ancient Greek and Egyptian cultures enriched his analytical thinking
style and provided him with different perspectives. Additionally, as a member
who reached the 33rd degree of the Scottish Rite Freemasonry, he explored a
world filled with profound thoughts and symbols.
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| The founder of the Gann Theory, W.D. Gann |
Gann
started his business career with a humble step and quickly established his own
brokerage firm, WD Gann & Company, in New York in 1908. Initially making
predictions only for stock markets, his fame rapidly spread due to accurate
predictions he made about social events. In 1919, he began publishing the daily
market newsletter called The Supply and Demand Newsletter. His publication in
1923, titled The Busy Man's Service, left a mark in the trading world by
providing detailed trade recommendations.
Gann not
only made statistically reliable predictions but also demonstrated an approach
that integrated mathematics, geometry, and astrology into his trading analyses.
He particularly used astrology more openly and intimately in his predictions,
even explaining in letters to one of his students how he analyzed the coffee
market using planetary cycles. His accurate predictions prior to the 1929 Great
Depression and his ability to forecast the U.S. presidential election further
elevated his popularity. He achieved significant successes in various markets
such as stocks, bonds, commodities, and currencies. He shared his experiences
in books like “Truth of the Stock Tape” and “45 Years in Wall Street”.
After
retiring, Gann returned to Florida and established a consulting firm, where he
began disseminating the teachings of the Gann Theory. His books, “How to
Make Profits in Commodities” and “45 Years in Wall Street”, contain valuable
insights for the stock market and provide investors with strategic
perspectives. William Delbert Gann passed away on June 18, 1955, in New York.
His theories and analytical approach continue to play a significant role in the
analysis and trading of financial markets even in the present day.