Andrew Carnegie

Andrew Carnegie (November 25, 1835 – August 11, 1919) is a Scottish-American industrialist who leads the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century.

He is also one of the most important philanthropists of his era.

Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, and emigrates to the United States with his parents in 1848.

His first job in the United States is as a factory worker in a bobbin factory.

Later on he becomes a bill logger for the owner of the company.

Soon after he becomes a messenger boy.

Eventually he progressed up the ranks of a telegraph company.

He builds Pittsburgh's Carnegie Steel Company, which is later merged with Elbert H. Gary's Federal Steel Company and several smaller companies to create U.S. Steel.

With the fortune he makes from business, among others, he builds Carnegie Hall.

Later, he turns to philanthropy and interests in education, founding the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Carnegie Mellon University and the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh.

Carnegie gives most of his money to establish many libraries, schools, and universities in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and other countries, as well as a pension fund for former employees.

He is often regarded as the second-richest man in history after John D. Rockefeller.

Starting as a telegrapher, by the 1860s he has investments in railroads, railroad sleeping cars, bridges and oil derricks.

He builds further wealth as a bond salesman raising money for American enterprise in Europe.

Carnegie once gives $25,000 to Speaker of the House David B. Henderson to erect a library on the campus of Upper Iowa University in his name.

He earns most of his fortune in the steel industry.

In the 1870s, he founds the Carnegie Steel Company, a step that cements his name as one of the "Captains of Industry".

By the 1890s, the company is the largest and most profitable industrial enterprise in the world.

Carnegie sells it in 1901 for $480 million to J.P. Morgan, who creates U.S. Steel.

Carnegie devotes the remainder of his life to large-scale philanthropy, with special emphasis on local libraries, world peace, education and scientific research.

His life has often been referred to as a true "rags to riches" story.

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