The mysterious trader

William Delbert Gann was born on June 6, 1878, in Lufkin, Texas. Gann was taught to read using the Bible, which profoundly influenced his later market theories, as he believed it contained hidden cycles and truths. With limited formal education, he left school at 16 to work, driven by a desire to avoid farming. Self- taught in mathematics, astronomy, and ancient history, Gann studied Greek and Egyptian cultures, possibly contributing to his geometric trading methods. He was also a 33rd-degree Freemason of the Scottish Rite Order, which some attribute to his knowledge of ancient mathematics. In 1902, at age 24, he made his first commodity trade in cotton, marking the start of his financial career.