Jay Gatsby first encountered Dan Cody on Lake Superior, where he was working. The character noticed that the storm was coming. So, he decided to warn the sailor about the bad weather. While being thankful for the notice, Cody started a conversation with Jay and offered him a job.
Detailed answer:
Jay Gatsby was not always a rich and successful man. He was born to a low-income family and had to work since early childhood in order to afford food and clothes. Then he got enrolled in a college and needed to cover the tuition fees. But it was hard to find a job that would not be humiliating or disrespectful. For this reason, he traveled to the shore of Lake Superior and made money by fishing.
During one of his travels, Gatsby noticed a man out with the yacht. Since the weather was terrible, Jay realized that the storm might start soon. He decided to tell the man about a possible hazard. The character’s name was Dan Cody – a self-made wealthy individual. He was so grateful for Gatsby’s help that he decided to offer him the position of his personal assistant. Therefore, receiving this job was a lucky ticket into a wealthy life.
To summarize, the first meeting of Jay Gatsby and Dan Cody happened on Lake Superior. The main character of the book was working there. He warned the man on the yacht about the coming storm. In return for the help, he received a job offer. It seems like it was his lucky day. Gatsby appeared at the right time in the right place, didn’t he?