Carnegie,Andrew (1835–1919)
Scottish-born immigrant who made a fortune in the iron
business but is best remembered for his generosity and philanthropy.
Andrew Carnegie was born November 25, 1835. In 1848,
the Carnegie family left the poverty of Scotland in hopes of a
better life in America. They joined other family members in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where young Andrew held a series
of odd jobs. At age 14 he acquired a job with the telegraph,
where he excelled, earning an astounding $4 a week. In the
telegraph office Andrew met Thomas A. Scott, who had just
started his railroad career as a station agent with the
Pennsylvania Railroad. Scott hired Andrew as his secretary
and personal telegraph messenger at a salary of $35 a week.
Carnegie remained with Pennsylvania Railroad for 12
years, working his way up until he succeeded Scott as superintendent. He acquired his first large profit from his stock in
the Woodruff Company, holder of the Pullman sleeping car
patent. In 1865, he resigned from the Pennsylvania Railroad
to take advantage of a new field that had blossomed during
the Civil War—the iron industry. Using his connections in
Europe and the railroad business, Carnegie amassed a fortune in iron and steel.
A shrewd and talented businessman, Carnegie had a passion for learning and reading. He wrote several books and
papers on wealth and its uses. In 1901 he sold his company,
Carnegie Steel, to J. P. Morgan’s United States Steel Corporation. With the money from the sale, he established a retirement and benefit fund for his employees.
Carnegie believed any wealth above $50,000 per year
should be spent giving back to the community. He donated
money to colleges, trusts, and other causes he felt were
important. The Carnegie Library Project remains one of his
most visible projects. Many small and rural libraries throughout the country were gifts from the Carnegie Foundation.
Carnegie continued his good works until his death August 11,
1919, at the age of 83. He had been so influential that his life
reflected the development of industrial history as a whole.