What is Harry Gordon Selfridge?
[[File:Harry Gordon Selfridge circa 1910.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Selfridge in 1910]] '''Harry Gordon Selfridge, Sr.''' (11 January 1858 – 8 May 1947)<ref name=EB>{{cite web|title=Harry Gordon Selfridge|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/533543/Harry-Gordon-Selfridge|work=Encyclopedia Britannica|accessdate=6 August 2013}}</ref> was an [[Americans|American]]-[[British]] [[business]] [[owner]]. He founded the [[London]]-based [[department store]] [[Selfridges]]. He was one of the most respected and [[wealthy]] [[retail]] businessmen in the [[United Kingdom]]. == Early life == Selfridge was born in [[Ripon, Wisconsin|Ripon]], [[Wisconsin]].<ref name=milwaukee_journal>[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/wlhba/articleView.asp?pg=1&orderby=&id=11176&pn=1&key=selfridge&cy= The Yankee Who Taught Britishers That 'the Customer Is Always Right'], Milwaukee Journal, 7 September 1932,</ref> Selfridge was raised in [[Jackson, Michigan|Jackson]], [[Michigan]]. Selfridge's parents were Robert Oliver Selfridge and his wife Lois. They had three sons.<ref name=Woodhead7>Lindy Woodhead, ''Shopping, Seduction & Mr. Selfridge'' (New York: Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2012), p. 5</ref> His father fought in the [[American Civil War]]. He was a [[major]] in the [[Union Army]].<ref name=Woodhead7/> After he was discharged, he did not come back to the family.<ref name=Woodhead7/> Both of Selfridge's brothers died young. His mother taught [[school]]. From the age of 10, Harry began working. He sold newspapers to help his mother. Later he stocked [[:wikt:shelves|shelves]] at a [[:en:wikt:dry goods|dry goods]] store. == Career == When he was 21, Selfridge went to [[Chicago]]. He worked for Field, Leiter and Company. This later became [[Marshall Field's|Marshall Field's & Co.]] He worked there for 25 years.<ref>Harry Gordon Selfridge. (2014). In ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Web. Retrieved on May 20, 2014.</ref> Selfridge started the idea of a [[Bargain bin|bargain basement]] in a department store. Selfridge's [[idea]]s added to the