ANDREW CARNEGIE ( 1835 - 1919 )
Andrew Carnegie was born on November 25, 1835 in Dunfermline, Scotland. He was a son of a Handloom Weaver who later became one of the Wealthiest Man in America. When he was 13, he moved to America with his family and got settled in Pennsylvania. He started his job in a factory earning $1.20 Pounds a week. Days went and Carnegie found a new job for him as a Telegraph Messenger. He got promoted to Telegraph Operator in 1851. In 1853, he joined Pennsylvania Railroad as a Asst. Telegrapher and he learned a lot about Railway Industry and after three years he became Superintendent of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
While working for the Railroad, Carnegie begin making Investments. He had a good return for his investment in oil and therefore he resigned his Job and concentrated on his other Businesses. He spent most of his thinking and hard work in Steel Industry ( Carnegie's Steel Company ) and created a revolution by building plants around the country using the modern technologies. He placed all his thinkings in the improvement of the company. He got hold of whatever he needed with his powerful thinking. By 1889, his Steel Company became the largest producer of Steel in the entire World which made him one of wealthiest mens in America.
In 1901, Carnegie made a dramatic change by selling his Steel Company to United States Steel Corporation which was started by legendary financier J.P.Morgan. The sale earned him $200 million. At the age of 65 he decided to spend his rest of his days helping others. He started his Philanthropic works by giving out donations and building libraries. The New York Public Library opened several branches in 1901, with the help of Carnegie's $5 million dollar donation. He established Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh which is now called as
Carnegie-Mellon University. The next year to that, he created "Carnegie Foundation for Advancement of Teaching" in 1905. Although being a man of enormous wealth, Carnegie was a " Man of Peace " and because of his passion and love to Peace, he formed "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace" in 1910. It is said that more than 2,800 Libraries were opened with his donations to the Society. Apart from his Business and his Charitable Interests, he was also interested in Traveling and meeting his friends. He dated Louise Whitfield for many years and finally got married with her in 1887 and had a beautiful daughter named Margaret. Carnegie died of Pneumonia on August 11, 1919 in Massachusetts. His fortune was estimated at $500 million at the end of his death. He reportedly left $350 million of that money to be given to charities, organizations and Institutions he believed in.