Andrew Carnegie
Born 1835 · Age 191
Scottish-American industrialist who led expansion of the U.S. steel industry and became a major philanthropist, giving away roughly $350M in his lifetime and founding many institutions (Carnegie Steel, Carnegie Mellon, Carnegie Corporation, libraries, Peace Palace, etc.).
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Dunfermline, Scotland
Andrew Carnegie born to William and Margaret Carnegie in a weaver's cottage in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland.
Family moves to larger house in Dunfermline
Carnegie family moved to a larger house on Edgar Street as business briefly improved.
Hired as a bobbin boy at a cotton mill
Began work in a Pittsburgh cotton factory changing spools; starting wage $1.20 per week.
Works for John Hay (bobbin factory) tending steam engine
Offered a higher-paying job by John Hay at $2.00 per week, running small steam engine and firing the boiler.
Emigrated to the United States (Allegheny/Pittsburgh)
Carnegie family moved to Allegheny (now part of Pittsburgh) seeking better opportunities during Scottish economic hardship.
Joins Ohio Telegraph Company as messenger boy
Became a telegraph messenger boy in Pittsburgh, earning $2.50 per week; learned city businesses and made connections.
Promoted to telegraph operator
Rapidly learned telegraphy and was promoted from messenger to operator, increasing earnings and skills.
Hired by Pennsylvania Railroad (Thomas A. Scott's office)
Became telegrapher and personal assistant to Thomas A. Scott; salary paid ~$4/week ($35/month in period sources). Key mentorship and contacts began here.
Invests $500 in Adams Express Company (via family mortgage)
With Scott's help secured an investment of $500; his mother placed a mortgage on the family home to enable investment.
Death of father William Carnegie
Will Carnegie died at age 51; Andrew became principal breadwinner for the family.
Promoted to Superintendent, Western Division of Pennsylvania Railroad
Officially became superintendent (Dec 1, 1859); salary ~$1,500/year. Hired brother Tom as secretary.
Joins U.S. Military Telegraph Corps (Civil War service)
Appointed Superintendent of Military Railways and Union telegraph lines in the East under Thomas Scott; supported Union logistics.
Invests in Woodruff/Pullman sleeping car arrangements
Instrumental in merging Woodruff's company with Pullman's sleeping car interests; early investment in sleeping-car business generated substantial returns.
Invests $11,000 in Titusville oil (early oil investment)
Used returns from earlier investments to invest in oil near Titusville; PBS/wikipedia sources cite an $11k investment returning ~$17,868 after one year.
Investor in Columbia Oil Company (Venango County)
Early investor; firm reportedly yielded over $1M in cash dividends in one year, rapidly increasing Carnegie's capital available for further ventures.
Retires from railroad; founds Keystone Bridge Company
Left the Pennsylvania Railroad to form ironworks interests, reorganizing Piper & Schiffler into Keystone Bridge Company to supply iron bridges.
Founds Keystone Telegraph Company (merges quickly)
Established Keystone Telegraph with railroad-connected associates; merged with Pacific & Atlantic Telegraph Co. and produced strong returns.
Visits Henry Bessemer's plants in England
Exposure to the Bessemer process convinced Carnegie of steel's huge commercial potential and motivated expansion into steel production.
Opens Edgar Thomson Steel Works (first major steel plant)
Opened the Edgar Thomson Works in Braddock, PA; first large integrated steel mill producing rails—named for John Edgar Thomson.
Funds swimming baths and library gift to Dunfermline
Donated to civic improvements in his birthplace; began pattern of civic philanthropy in Scotland.
Pledges to live on limited income and devote surplus to benevolence
Wrote to himself planning to limit personal income to $50,000/year and devote surplus to education and public causes.
Acquires Homestead Steel Works (major expansion)
Purchased rival Homestead Works, gaining integrated plant, coal/iron fields, railroad, and lake steamship line—key vertical integration move.
First Carnegie Library (Dunfermline) opens
First Carnegie-funded public library opened in Dunfermline; start of a global library philanthropy program.
Death of mother Margaret and brother Thomas (same year)
Suffered personal losses; his mother (major influence) died in 1886 and brother Thomas died the same year (Thomas age 43).
Marries Louise Whitfield
Married Louise Whitfield (two decades his junior) in 1887; they later had one child, Margaret (born 1897).
Publishes 'The Gospel of Wealth' ('Wealth')
Published essay urging the rich to distribute wealth for public good and support progressive taxation; sparked philanthropic movement.
Johnstown Flood controversy (club member of South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club)
The catastrophic Johnstown Flood (May 31, 1889) implicated members of the exclusive club, including Carnegie's associates; public criticism ensued.
Carnegie Hall opens in New York City (funded)
Financed construction of Carnegie Hall; cost about $1.1M for land and building—opened 1891 as premier music venue.
Forms Carnegie Steel Company (consolidation of holdings)
Combined many assets into Carnegie Steel Company (company formation noted in late 1880s/1892), creating a dominant integrated steel enterprise.
Homestead Strike at Homestead Works (violent labor conflict)
While Carnegie was in Europe, Henry Clay Frick handled a strike with Pinkerton agents leading to a bloody battle; public image damaged.
Offers $20 million to Philippines for independence (rejected)
Opposed U.S. imperial annexation after Spanish–American War; personally offered $20M to help Filipinos buy independence—offer not taken up.
Further consolidation of steel holdings (Carnegie Steel reorganized)
Organized several steel companies into more integrated corporate structures ahead of an eventual sale; tensions with Frick grew.
Donates $2 million to found Carnegie Institute of Technology (CIT)
Gift of $2M to start Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh (later Carnegie Mellon University).
Agrees to sell Carnegie Steel (letter signed)
Signed agreement to sell his holdings; transaction with J. P. Morgan negotiated leading to the creation of U.S. Steel.
Sale to J. P. Morgan / formation of U.S. Steel completed
Carnegie's steel holdings were incorporated into United States Steel Corporation. Wikipedia cites sale price $303,450,000; other sources cite $480M. The transaction completed March 2, 1901.
Creates Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland (deed signed)
Signed deed establishing the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland with an initial gift of $10 million (in 1901 terms).
Elected Lord Rector of the University of St. Andrews
Elected Lord Rector in December 1901; formally installed Oct 1902 and served until 1907.
Establishes Carnegie Institution for Science (initial $2M)
Donated $2M in 1902 to create Carnegie Institution in Washington, D.C. to support scientific research.
Funds the Peace Palace (grant $1.5M) and Pan-American Palace ($150k)
Contributed $1.5M toward the Peace Palace at The Hague and $150k for a Pan-American Palace in Washington.
Founding of the Carnegie Hero Fund
Established the Carnegie Hero Fund for the United States and Canada to recognize civilian heroism (initial endowment noted in early 1900s).
Establishes Teachers' Pension Fund (endowment ~$10M)
Created a pension fund for American college professors (later evolving into TIAA-CREF), seeding it with $10M.
Founding of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (established around 1910)
Established the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace to advance world peace and diplomatic study (founding dated 1910 in many sources).
Creates Carnegie Corporation of New York (major foundation)
Founded the Carnegie Corporation of New York in 1911 to continue philanthropic giving; sources cite he endowed it with about $125M of his remaining wealth.
Donates additional $10M to Carnegie Institution for telescope support
Became a key benefactor to George Ellery Hale and donated an additional $10M to the Carnegie Institution to expedite Mount Wilson telescope construction.
Endows Carnegie United Kingdom Trust ($10M)
Gave $10M in 1913 to endow the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust to manage UK benefactions and grant-making.
Peace Palace (The Hague) dedicated
The Peace Palace, which Carnegie financed, was dedicated in 1913; a capstone of his peace philanthropy.
Leaves Scotland as WWI begins
As World War I began, Carnegie left Scotland for the last time; wartime context affected philanthropic activity and travels.
Purchases Shadowbrook estate (Lenox, Massachusetts)
Acquired Shadowbrook estate in Massachusetts, where he later died; cost is not detailed in these sources.
Library philanthropy: roughly 3,000 libraries funded (cumulative)
By the 1910s Carnegie's library program had funded roughly 3,000 libraries across many countries—major cultural legacy.
Initiated as honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Honored for philanthropy and support of the arts by Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia at New England Conservatory on Oct 14, 1917.
Hooker Telescope first light (Mount Wilson) — project supported
Hooker Telescope saw first light Nov 2, 1917; Carnegie had funded the institution and telescope construction.
Posthumous distribution of last $30M
After his death his last approx. $30M was given to foundations, charities and pensioners per sources.
Death at Shadowbrook, Lenox, Massachusetts
Died of bronchial pneumonia on Aug 11, 1919. During his life he gave away about $350,695,653; his remaining estate (including last $30M) was distributed after death.
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