Carnegie Andrew built the American steel industry and became very rich. But he believed that a rich man's money belonged to the community in which it was earned. During the last 18 years of his life, he shared much of his huge fortune with other people.
Andrew Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, on November 25, 1835. When Andrew was 13, the family moved to the United States and settled in Pittsburgh.
A year later Andrew found a job as a messenger for the Pittsburgh telegraph office. In his spare time he studied telegraphy. Thomas Scott, the superintendent of the Pennsylvania Railroad's western division, became interested in the boy. During the Civil War, Scott was sent to left the front as assistant secretary of war. He took young Carnegie along to help him set up railroads and a telegraph system for the Union Army.
After the war, Andrew proved that sleeping cars would improve railroad travel. He formed a sleeping car company and kept a large share. This started his success.
In 1865 he resigned from the the railroad and began to invest in different businesses. He foresaw that the growing industry of the United States would need more and more steel. By putting all his money into steel, he said he was "putting all his eggs in one basket and then watching the basket." He soon became known as the Steel King. In 1901 Andrew Carnegie sold his steel empire to the newly formed United States Steel Corporation.
Carnegie now had time to carry out his dream of helping other people. Remembering how, when he was a boy, a wealthy man had lent him books, he founded the Carnegie Institute of Pittsburgh. The institute has a library, a museum of fine arts, a museum of natural history, and a school of technology. He also gave large sums of money to establish free libraries in the United States and many other countries. Much of Carnegie's wealth went to organizations that worked for peace and friendship throughout the world.
Carnegie died on August 11, 1919, shortly after the end of World War I. The many organizations Carnegie endowed are carrying out his democratic ideas.
Andrew Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, on November 25, 1835. When Andrew was 13, the family moved to the United States and settled in Pittsburgh.
A year later Andrew found a job as a messenger for the Pittsburgh telegraph office. In his spare time he studied telegraphy. Thomas Scott, the superintendent of the Pennsylvania Railroad's western division, became interested in the boy. During the Civil War, Scott was sent to left the front as assistant secretary of war. He took young Carnegie along to help him set up railroads and a telegraph system for the Union Army.
After the war, Andrew proved that sleeping cars would improve railroad travel. He formed a sleeping car company and kept a large share. This started his success.
In 1865 he resigned from the the railroad and began to invest in different businesses. He foresaw that the growing industry of the United States would need more and more steel. By putting all his money into steel, he said he was "putting all his eggs in one basket and then watching the basket." He soon became known as the Steel King. In 1901 Andrew Carnegie sold his steel empire to the newly formed United States Steel Corporation.
Carnegie now had time to carry out his dream of helping other people. Remembering how, when he was a boy, a wealthy man had lent him books, he founded the Carnegie Institute of Pittsburgh. The institute has a library, a museum of fine arts, a museum of natural history, and a school of technology. He also gave large sums of money to establish free libraries in the United States and many other countries. Much of Carnegie's wealth went to organizations that worked for peace and friendship throughout the world.
Carnegie died on August 11, 1919, shortly after the end of World War I. The many organizations Carnegie endowed are carrying out his democratic ideas.
