Thomas Clark Durant, (February 6, 1820 – October 5, 1885) was an American financier and railroad promoter. He was vice-president of the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) in 1869 when it met with the Central Pacific railroad at Promontory Summit in Utah Territory. He created the financial structure which led to the Crédit Mobilier scandal.He was successful in building railroads in the Midwest, and, after the UP was organized in 1862 by an act of Congress, John A.