Mount was born in Wheaton, Minn. on July 22, 1907. He was an inventor, holding over twenty U.S. and foreign patents. After graduation from Amherst College (Class of 1928) he held various positions in investment banking, accounting, management (manufacturing), printing and publishing. After 1943 he was primarily self-employed in research and development of new products and related services for clients. In 1976 he formed the Mount Pipe Joint Corporation. He died on Nov. 18, 1985. Mount first proposed a form of value-added tax in 1941 and during his lifetime continued to write and campaign for its adoption in the United States.