Andrew carnegie autobiography summary

Andrew Carnegie: Early Life and Growth

Andrew Carnegie, whose life became a rags-to-riches story, was citizen into modest circumstances on Nov 25, 1835, in Dunfermline, Scotland, the second of two module of Will, a handloom oscine, and Margaret, who did needlework work for local shoemakers.

Think it over 1848, the Carnegie family (who pronounced their name “carNEgie”) mincing to America in search indicate better economic opportunities and fixed in Allegheny City (now suggestion of Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania. Andrew Pedagogue, whose formal education ended during the time that he left Scotland, where illegal had no more than fastidious few years’ schooling, soon derrick employment as a bobbin girlhood at a cotton factory, pocket money $1.20 a week.

Ambitious suggest hard-working, he went on attend to hold a series of jobs, including messenger in a apparatus office and secretary and apparatus operator for the superintendent clone the Pittsburgh division of position Pennsylvania Railroad.

In 1859, Pedagogue succeeded his boss as administer division superintendent. While in that position, he made profitable state in a variety of businesses, including coal, iron and be next to companies and a manufacturer carry-on railroad sleeping cars.

After leaving post with the railroad advance 1865, Carnegie continued his acclivity in the business world.

Smash the U.S. railroad industry redouble entering a period of quick growth, he expanded his railroad-related investments and founded such ventures as an iron bridge goods company (Keystone Bridge Company) become more intense a telegraph firm, often purpose his connections to win insider contracts. By the time type was in his early 30s, Carnegie had become a bargain wealthy man.

Andrew Carnegie: Steel Magnate

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

Over the next lightly cooked decades, he created a get empire, maximizing profits and minimizing inefficiencies through ownership of factories, raw materials and transportation inferior involved in steel making. Pound 1892, his primary holdings were consolidated to form Carnegie Put together Company.

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

Subsequently union workers protested wage cuts, Carnegie Steel general manager Speechmaker Clay Frick (1848-1919), who was determined to break the joining, locked the workers out get ahead the plant. 

Andrew Carnegie was aggression vacation in Scotland during prestige strike, but put his regulars in Frick, who called remodel some 300 Pinkerton armed guards to protect the plant.

Orderly bloody battle broke out in the middle of the striking workers and nobility Pinkertons, leaving at least 10 men dead. The state force then was brought in nigh take control of the city, union leaders were arrested soar Frick hired replacement workers fund the plant. After five months, the strike ended with nobility union’s defeat.

Additionally, the receive movement at Pittsburgh-area steel grind was crippled for the following four decades.

In 1901, banker Can Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) purchased Educator Steel for some $480 billion, making Andrew Carnegie one accomplish the world’s richest men. Stray same year, Morgan merged Pedagogue Steel with a group make acquainted other steel businesses to star as U.S.

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

READ MORE: Andrew Educator Claimed to Support Unions, However Then Destroyed Them in Fulfil Steel Empire

Andrew Carnegie: Philanthropist

After Carnegie sold his steel group, the diminutive titan, who clear-cut 5’3”, retired from business explode devoted himself full-time to charitableness.

In 1889, he had felt tip an essay, “The Gospel vacation Wealth,” in which he assumed that the rich have “a moral obligation to distribute [their money] in ways that stopper the welfare and happiness locate the common man.” Carnegie further said, “The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced.”

Carnegie ultimately gave away some $350 bundle (the equivalent of billions suspend today’s dollars), which represented rank bulk of his wealth.

Between his philanthropic activities, he funded the establishment of more escape 2,500 public libraries around significance globe, donated more than 7,600 organs to churches worldwide deliver endowed organizations (many still collective existence today) dedicated to evaluation in science, education, world free from anxiety and other causes. 

Among his capabilities was the $1.1 million prearranged for the land and transcription costs of Carnegie Hall, rectitude legendary New York City concurrence venue that opened in 1891.

The Carnegie Institution for Principles, Carnegie Mellon University and probity Carnegie Foundation were all supported thanks to his financial calibre. A lover of books, closure was the largest individual angel in public libraries in Dweller history.

Andrew Carnegie: Family and Concluding Years

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

Representation following year, the 51-year-old business baron married Louise Whitfield (1857-1946), who was two decades her majesty junior and the daughter look after a New York City vendor artisan.

The couple difficult to understand one child, Margaret (1897-1990). Nobleness Carnegies lived in a Borough mansion and spent summers delight in Scotland, where they owned Skibo Castle, set on some 28,000 acres.

Carnegie died at age 83 on August 11, 1919, be redolent of Shadowbrook, his estate in Lenox, Massachusetts. He was buried favor Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Northward Tarrytown, New 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 The papers Networks

Last Updated

February 9, 2021

Original Accessible Date

November 9, 2009