Horatio Alger

American  

adjective

1. of or characteristic of the heroes in the novels of Horatio Alger, who begin life in poverty and achieve success and wealth through honesty, hard work, and virtuous behavior.

   the Horatio Alger story of his rise in the business world.

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Alger, Horatio, Jr. Cultural  

1. A nineteenth-century American author known for his many books in which poor boys become rich through their earnest attitudes and hard work.

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A true story of spectacular worldly success achieved by someone who started near the bottom is often called a “Horatio Alger story.”

Etymology

Origin of Horatio Alger

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Starting in 1886, a series of games derived from the Horatio Alger books—with titles like From Log Cabin to the White House—caught the public’s fancy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 21, 2026

Curricula used to include stories like those by Horatio Alger about people pulling themselves up from poverty.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026

In all, Vance’s story of the Horatio Alger myth made real in Appalachia is actually one where he received much help and assistance along the way.

From Salon • Aug. 21, 2024

The New York Times recently surfaced VIP treatment from wealthy businessmen he met through the Horatio Alger Association, an exclusive nonprofit.

From Salon • Aug. 10, 2023

Hamilton himself was a kind of Horatio Alger hero who aspired to fame more than fortune, but he understood the world of banking, investing, and speculating from within.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis