Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). [21] William Sr. was first a lumberman and then a traveling salesman who identified himself as a "botanic physician" who sold elixirs, described by locals as "Big Bill" and "Devil Bill. [107] His wife Laura Spelman Rockefeller, was dedicated to civil rights and equality for women. In total Rockefeller donated about $530million. David Rockefeller [citation needed], Rockefeller created the Rockefeller Foundation in 1913[119] to continue and expand the scope of the work of the Sanitary Commission,[114] which was closed in 1915. ROCKEFELLER [132], In his 50s Rockefeller suffered from moderate depression and digestive troubles; during a stressful period in the 1890s he developed alopecia, the loss of some or all body hair. [35] Rockefeller received $16 a month for his three-month apprenticeship. [71], The company's vast American empire included 20,000 domestic wells, 4,000 miles of pipeline, 5,000 tank cars, and over 100,000 employees. May 15, 1911 | Supreme Court Orders Standard Oil to Be Broken Up [66], The firm was attacked by journalists and politicians throughout its existence, in part for these monopolistic methods, giving momentum to the antitrust movement. In the early 1880s, Rockefeller created one of his most important innovations. Hostile critics often portrayed Rockefeller as a villain with a suite of bad traitsruthless, unscrupulous and greedyand as a bully who connived his cruel path to dominance. Rockefeller believed in the Efficiency Movement, arguing that: "To help an inefficient, ill-located, unnecessary school is a waste it is highly probable that enough money has been squandered on unwise educational projects to have built up a national system of higher education adequate to our needs, if the money had been properly directed to that end. A. D. John. Learn about John D. Rockefeller's historic-preservation of early American history at Williamsburg. John D. Rockefeller founded the Standard Oil Company, which dominated the oil industry and was the first great U.S. business trust. By the end of the 1870s, Standard was refining over 90% of the oil in the U.S.[60] Rockefeller had already become a millionaire ($1million is equivalent to $28million[37] in 2021 dollars).[61]. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Because of Rockefellers emphasis on economical operations, Standard prospered and began to buy out its competitors until, by 1872, it controlled nearly all the refineries in Cleveland. Corrections? John D. Rockefeller As he grew rich, his donations became more generous, especially to his church in Cleveland; nevertheless, it was demolished in 1925, and replaced with another building.[101]. Though he had long maintained a policy of active silence with the press, he decided to make himself more accessible and responded with conciliatory comments such as "capital and labor are both wild forces which require intelligent legislation to hold them in restriction." David Rockefeller For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. On Gates' advice, Rockefeller became one of the first great benefactors of medical science. WebJohn D. Rockefeller was the richest man of his time but, used his wealth to improve our country. Within two years it is the largest refinery in the area. He would describe the University of Chicago as "the best investment I ever made." He quickly found success as it became the largest refinery in the area, and John D. Rockefeller Was the Richest Person To Ever Live [96] When testifying on the Ludlow Massacre, and asked what action he would have taken as Director, John D. Rockefeller Jr. stated, "I would have taken no action. [69] The "trust" was a corporation of corporations, and the entity's size and wealth drew much attention. Public hostility toward monopolies, of which Standard was the best known, caused some countries to enact anti-monopoly laws. I would have deplored the necessity which compelled the officers of the company to resort to such measures to supplement the State forces to maintain law and order." In 1884, Rockefeller provided major funding for Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary in Atlanta for African-American women, which became Spelman College. Pennzoil and Chevron have remained separate companies. The Supreme Court ruled in 1911 that Standard Oil must be dismantled for violation of federal antitrust laws. He has been widely considered the wealthiest American of all time[1][2] and the richest person in modern history. WebIn the 1860s John D. Rockefeller took note of the expansion of oil production in western Pennsylvania and built an oil refinery near Cleveland, Ohio, in 1863. [citation needed] The study, an excerpt of which was published in The Atlantic,[13] had been undertaken by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. WebRockefeller revolutionized the petroleum industry and, through corporate and technological innovations, was instrumental in both widely disseminating and drastically reducing the production cost of oil. Biography: John D. Rockefeller Sensing the commercial potential of the expanding oil production in western Pennsylvania in the early 1860s, he built his first oil refinery, near Cleveland, in 1863. [71] Its share of world oil refining topped out above 90% but slowly dropped to about 80% for the rest of the century. John D. Rockefeller is reported to be the wealthiest man in America with about $150,000,000 and an income of $25,000 per day. It supplied kerosene by tank cars that brought the fuel to local markets, and tank wagons then delivered to retail customers, thus bypassing the existing network of wholesale jobbers. John D. Rockefeller [97], Against long-circulating speculations that his family has French roots, genealogists proved the German origin of Rockefeller and traced them back to the early 17th century. In the same letter, Rockefeller writes that he has "always stood for whatever measure seemed at the time to give promise of promoting temperance." I was early taught to work as well as play, Coal had previously been used to extract kerosene, but its tedious extraction process and high price prevented broad use. His philosophy of giving was founded upon biblical principles. His hair never grew back, but other health complaints subsided as he lightened his workload. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937), founder of the Standard Oil Company, became one of the worlds wealthiest men and a major philanthropist. He admitted that he had made no attempt to bring the militiamen to justice. This campaign used a combination of politics and science, along with collaboration between healthcare workers and government officials to accomplish its goals. Rather than try to influence the price of crude oil directly, Standard Oil had been exercising indirect control by altering oil storage charges to suit market conditions. He was an excellent debater and expressed himself precisely. Founded by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. (1839-1937), the Standard Oil Company is one of the world's richest corporations. [55], Part of this scheme was the announcement of sharply increased freight charges. American business magnate and philanthropist (18391937), For other people named John D. Rockefeller, see, Business partnership and Civil War service, Strike of 191314 and the Ludlow Massacre. In 1901, U.S. Steel, then controlled by J. Pierpont Morgan, having bought Andrew Carnegie's steel assets, offered to buy Standard's iron interests as well. He paid towards the freedom of two slaves[102] and donated to a Roman Catholic orphanage. John D. Rockefeller In less than four months in 1872, in what was later known as "The Cleveland Conquest" or "The Cleveland Massacre," Standard Oil absorbed 22 of its 26 Cleveland competitors. In February 1914, a substantial portion of the troops were withdrawn, but a large contingent remained at Ludlow. [94], The casualties suffered at Ludlow mobilized public opinion against the Rockefellers and the coal industry. [124], Rockefeller's fourth main philanthropy, the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial Foundation, was created in 1918. [121] It also built the Peking Union Medical College in China into a notable institution. Within two years it was the largest refinery in the area, and thereafter Rockefeller devoted himself exclusively to the oil business. But they had never played fair, and that ruined their greatness for me." Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. American industrialist John D. Rockefeller built his first oil refinery near Cleveland and in 1870 incorporated the Standard Oil Company. John D. Rockefeller [3][4] Rockefeller was born into a large family in Upstate New York that moved several times before eventually settling in Cleveland. Under the protection of the National Guard, some miners returned to work and some strikebreakers, imported from the eastern coalfields, joined them as Guard troops protecting their movements. WebBy 1858, Rockefeller had more responsibilities at Hewitt & Tuttle. John D. Rockefeller was an American business magnate and philanthropist. The National Petroleum Exchange opened in Manhattan in late 1882 to facilitate the trading of oil futures. But by 1932, Rockefeller felt disillusioned by prohibition because of its failure to discourage drinking and alcoholism. [81] Amid the frenetic expansion, Rockefeller began to think of retirement. He came to associate the church with charity. [10] His foundations pioneered developments in medical research and were instrumental in the near-eradication of hookworm[11] and yellow fever[12] in the United States. After the war, he donated land for the United Nations headquarters, a gift that figured prominently in the decision to Fourth son Winthrop Aldrich Rockefeller served as Republican Governor of Arkansas. [110] The foundation helped in World War I war relief,[122] and it employed William Lyon Mackenzie King of Canada to study industrial relations. 187072 Even with the high costs of freight transportation and a government levy during the Civil War (the government levied a tax of twenty cents a gallon on refined oil), profits on the refined product were large. John D Rockefeller was a businessman who emerged as one of the men with largest fortune in history. Most failed, but those who struck oil did not even need to be efficient. Did Rockefeller Rockefeller had only $800 saved up at the time and so borrowed $1,000 from his father, "Big Bill" Rockefeller, at 10 percent interest. John D Rockefeller was a businessman who emerged as one of the men with largest fortune in history. While most refiners dumped oil byproducts into nearby rivers, Rockefeller wisely hired research-and-development men to produce waxes, paving materials, and detergents from the seemingly unmarketable sludge that was discarded. On this day in 1870, Rockefeller incorporated the company that would make him almost inconceivably rich and, in many ways, begin the modern age of oil. John D. Rockefeller John D He was a faithful congregant of the Erie Street Baptist Mission Church, taught Sunday school, and served as a trustee, clerk, and occasional janitor. I dropped the worry on the way On this day in 1870, Rockefeller incorporated the company that would make him almost inconceivably rich and, in many ways, begin the modern age of oil. Rockefeller's charitable giving began with his first job as a clerk at age 16, when he gave six percent of his earnings to charity, as recorded in his personal ledger. WebROCKEFELLER, JOHN D. (8 July 1839-23 May 1937), industrialist and philanthropist, rose from his position as an assistant bookkeeper for a Cleveland commission merchant to become one of the wealthiest men in the U.S. through his efforts in developing the STANDARD OIL CO. Born on a farm near Richford, NY. John D. Rockefeller and his son, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. WebThe Rockefeller family (/ r k f l r /) is an American industrial, political, and banking family that owns one of the world's largest fortunes.The fortune was made in the American petroleum industry during the late 19th and early 20th centuries by brothers John D. Rockefeller and William A. Rockefeller Jr., primarily through Standard Oil (the He quickly found success as it became the largest refinery in the area, and His company and business practices came under criticism, particularly in the writings of author Ida Tarbell . A devout Baptist, Rockefeller turned his attention increasingly during the 1890s to charities and benevolence; after 1897 he devoted himself completely to philanthropy. John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937), founder of the Standard Oil Company, became one of the worlds wealthiest men and a major philanthropist. By 1882 Standard Oil had a near monopoly on the oil business in the United States. Updates? The University of Chicago has long accorded John D. Rockefeller the official designation of "Founder," and that accolade may offer some historical compensation to Rockefeller's more conventional and hostile sobriquet of "robber baron." [13], Rockefeller was also the founder of the University of Chicago and Rockefeller University and funded the establishment of Central Philippine University in the Philippines. John D Did Rockefeller Clark initiated the idea of the partnership and offered $2,000 towards the goal. Facts About John D. Rockefeller Rockefeller envisioned pipelines as an alternative transport system for oil and began a campaign to build and acquire them. Omissions? Those practices enabled the company to negotiate withrailroadsfor favoured rates on its shipments of oil. [24], Eliza was a homemaker and a devout Baptist who struggled to maintain a semblance of stability at home, as Bill was frequently gone for extended periods. John D. Rockefeller is reported to be the wealthiest man in America with about $150,000,000 and an income of $25,000 per day. They thus established the first major U.S. trust and set a pattern of organization for other monopolies. He made possible the founding of the University of Chicago and endowed major philanthropic institutions. He was buried in Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland.[136]. The commercial oil business was then in its infancy. ROCKEFELLER John D. Rockefeller Rockefeller attended Baptist churches every Sunday; when traveling he would often attend services at African-American Baptist congregations, leaving a substantial donation. Biography Reference Center, EBSCO, United States Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics historical inflation calculator, United States Commission on Industrial Relations, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, "John D. Rockefeller: The Richest Man in the World", http://www.usstuckonstupid.com/sos_charts.php#gdp, "Giving It Away, Then and Now The New York Times", Weekly Centralian Link (June 15, 2018) CPU holds Faculty and Staff Conference 2018, "The Philanthropists: John D. Rockefeller Tim Challies", "John D. Rockefeller | Biography, Facts, & Death", "People & Events: John D. Rockefeller Senior, 18391937", "Proceedings of the Special Committee on Railroads, Appointed under a resolution of the Assembly to investigate alleged abuses in the Management of Railroads chartered by the State of New York (Vol. A devout Northern Baptist, Rockefeller would read the Bible daily, attend prayer meetings twice a week and even led his own Bible study with his wife. Even more critical, the invention of the light bulb gradually began to erode the dominance of kerosene for illumination. It acquired pipelines and terminal facilities, purchased competing refineries in other cities, and vigorously sought to expand its markets in the United States and abroad. WebIn the 1860s John D. Rockefeller took note of the expansion of oil production in western Pennsylvania and built an oil refinery near Cleveland, Ohio, in 1863. Webrmond Beach, Fla., May 23.--John D. Rockefeller Sr., who wanted to live until July 9, 1939, when he would have rounded out a century of life, died at 4:05 A.M. here today at The Casements, his Winter home, a little more than two years and a month from his cherished goal. [47], While other refineries would keep the 60% of oil product that became kerosene, but dump the other 40% in rivers and massive sludge piles,[48] Rockefeller used the gasoline to fuel the refinery, and sold the rest as lubricating oil, petroleum jelly and paraffin wax, and other by-products. Rockefeller finally gave up his dream of controlling all the world's oil refining; he admitted later, "We realized that public sentiment would be against us if we actually refined all the oil. The Ohio businessman John D. Rockefeller entered the oil industry in the 1860s and in 1870, and founded Standard Oil with some other business partners. [75] Additional fields were discovered in Burma and Java. These included, among many others, Continental Oil, which became Conoco, now part of ConocoPhillips; Standard of Indiana, which became Amoco, now part of BP; Standard of California, which became Chevron; Standard of New Jersey, which became Esso (and later, Exxon), now part of ExxonMobil; Standard of New York, which became Mobil, now part of ExxonMobil; and Standard of Ohio, which became Sohio, now part of BP. [citation needed], In 1864, Rockefeller married Laura Celestia "Cettie" Spelman (18391915), daughter of Harvey Buell Spelman and Lucy Henry. John D [46] In this environment of a wasteful boom, the partners switched from foodstuffs to oil, building an oil refinery in 1863 in "The Flats", then Cleveland's burgeoning industrial area. John D In the end it turned out that the individual segments of the company were worth more than the entire company was when it was one entitythe sum of the parts were worth more than the wholeas shares of these doubled and tripled in value in their early years. To critics Rockefeller replied, "In a business so large as ours some things are likely to be done which we cannot approve. 186365 Rockefeller builds his first oil refinery, near Cleveland. [51][52] Rockefeller, Andrews & Flagler was the predecessor of the Standard Oil Company. His General Education Board made a dramatic impact by funding the recommendations of the Flexner Report of 1910. [45], A market existed for the refined oil in the form of kerosene. Rockefeller had entered the raucous oil business during the Civil War, when oil often sold for a dollar a gallon. [70] The public and the press were immediately suspicious of this new legal entity, and other businesses seized upon the idea and emulated it, further inflaming public sentiment. [25][c] Eliza was thrifty by nature and by necessity, and she taught her son that "willful waste makes woeful want".
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