Part 4/12:
Conklin’s savvy extended into international ventures during the Spanish-American War era. In 1898, the U.S. designated him as the official financial agent in Cuba, tasked with establishing the first American bank there, the Banco Nacional de Cuba. He also played a significant role in developing telecommunication and transportation infrastructure, including railways and telephone networks, which catalyzed Cuba’s economic expansion.
This period greatly increased Conklin’s wealth and influence and positioned him as a major figure in burgeoning U.S. imperial and economic interests abroad.