Who is Thomas Cook from The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-events in America and what is their importance?

Daniel Boorstin describes Thomas Cook as a "pioneer in the making and marketing of conducted tours". His tours began in the mid 1800s, and they consisted of a discounted rate for a group of people taking a train between two cities in England. His tours eventually expanded to Scotland and Ireland. He continued to expand to more countries and cities and with his son organized tours in America, Switzerland, and the Holy Land. Cook's remains today "the largest travel agency in the world".