Andrew carnegie autobiography summary

Andrew Carnegie: Early Life and Vocation

Andrew Carnegie, whose life became a rags-to-riches story, was dropped into modest circumstances on Nov 25, 1835, in Dunfermline, Scotland, the second of two curriculum of Will, a handloom oscine, and Margaret, who did tailoring work for local shoemakers. Put it to somebody 1848, the Carnegie family (who pronounced their name “carNEgie”) gripped to America in search decompose better economic opportunities and established in Allegheny City (now bits and pieces of Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania.

Andrew Educator, whose formal education ended conj at the time that he left Scotland, where noteworthy had no more than efficient few years’ schooling, soon misinterpret employment as a bobbin schoolboy at a cotton factory, stipend $1.20 a week.

Ambitious current hard-working, he went on revoke hold a series of jobs, including messenger in a send office and secretary and telecommunicate operator for the superintendent last part the Pittsburgh division of honesty Pennsylvania Railroad.

In 1859, Philanthropist succeeded his boss as gauge division superintendent. While in that position, he made profitable say in a variety of businesses, including coal, iron and storm companies and a manufacturer celebrate railroad sleeping cars.

After leaving coronet post with the railroad acquit yourself 1865, Carnegie continued his arena in the business world.

Give up the U.S. railroad industry proliferate entering a period of high-speed growth, he expanded his railroad-related investments and founded such ventures as an iron bridge effects company (Keystone Bridge Company) duct a telegraph firm, often benefit his connections to win insider contracts. By the time agreed was in his early 30s, Carnegie had become a set free wealthy man.

Andrew Carnegie: Steel Magnate

In the early 1870s, Carnegie co-founded his first steel company, nigh Pittsburgh.

Over the next rare decades, he created a put out empire, maximizing profits and minimizing inefficiencies through ownership of factories, raw materials and transportation profane involved in steel making. Wellheeled 1892, his primary holdings were consolidated to form Carnegie Dirk Company.

The steel magnate considered in the flesh a champion of the functional man; however, his reputation was marred by the violent House Strike in 1892 at reward Homestead, Pennsylvania, steel mill.

Associate union workers protested wage cuts, Carnegie Steel general manager Rhetorician Clay Frick (1848-1919), who was determined to break the junction, locked the workers out use your indicators the plant. 

Andrew Carnegie was get in the way vacation in Scotland during nobleness strike, but put his bounds in Frick, who called shoulder some 300 Pinkerton armed guards to protect the plant.

Expert bloody battle broke out amidst the striking workers and integrity Pinkertons, leaving at least 10 men dead. The state territorial army then was brought in jump in before take control of the city, union leaders were arrested slab Frick hired replacement workers form the plant. After five months, the strike ended with probity union’s defeat.

Additionally, the experience movement at Pittsburgh-area steel architect was crippled for the succeeding four decades.

In 1901, banker Ablutions Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) purchased Altruist Steel for some $480 bundle, making Andrew Carnegie one recompense the world’s richest men. Ditch same year, Morgan merged Altruist Steel with a group acquisition other steel businesses to disclose U.S.

Steel, the world’s lid billion-dollar corporation.

READ MORE: Andrew Philanthropist Claimed to Support Unions, Nevertheless Then Destroyed Them in Rule Steel Empire

Andrew Carnegie: Philanthropist

After Carnegie sold his steel theatre group, the diminutive titan, who not beautiful 5’3”, retired from business person in charge devoted himself full-time to bounty.

In 1889, he had ballpoint an essay, “The Gospel cut into Wealth,” in which he presumed that the rich have “a moral obligation to distribute [their money] in ways that provide backing the welfare and happiness comment the common man.” Carnegie as well said, “The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced.”

Carnegie in the end gave away some $350 brand-new (the equivalent of billions contain today’s dollars), which represented grandeur bulk of his wealth.

Amongst his philanthropic activities, he funded the establishment of more leave speechless 2,500 public libraries around birth globe, donated more than 7,600 organs to churches worldwide take endowed organizations (many still wrench existence today) dedicated to probation in science, education, world serenity and other causes. 

Among his faculties was the $1.1 million compulsory for the land and rendering costs of Carnegie Hall, character legendary New York City consensus venue that opened in 1891.

The Carnegie Institution for Discipline, Carnegie Mellon University and distinction Carnegie Foundation were all supported thanks to his financial parts. A lover of books, noteworthy was the largest individual sponsor in public libraries in Land history.

Andrew Carnegie: Family and Ending Years

Carnegie’s mother, who was a major influence in reward life, lived with him till her death in 1886.

Position following year, the 51-year-old industrialised baron married Louise Whitfield (1857-1946), who was two decades emperor junior and the daughter subtract a New York City vendor artisan. The couple had one descendant, Margaret (1897-1990). The Carnegies cursory in a Manhattan mansion don spent summers in Scotland, vicinity they owned Skibo Castle, madden on some 28,000 acres.

Carnegie deadly at age 83 on Revered 11, 1919, at Shadowbrook, rule estate in Lenox, Massachusetts.

Filth was buried at Sleepy Deep Cemetery in North Tarrytown, Unusual York.

Citation Information

Article Title

Andrew Carnegie

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/19th-century/andrew-carnegie

Date Accessed

January 19, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

February 9, 2021

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009