[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. He bought a residence in 1884 on 54th Street near the mansions of other magnates such as William Henry Vanderbilt. [59] Standard was growing horizontally and vertically. I only know he conceived the idea. [31] He was a well-behaved, serious, and studious boy despite his father's absences and frequent family moves. Learn the history behind Byron Benson's building the world's first oil pipeline (1879), defeating John D. Rockefeller and the Standard Oil Company, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-D-Rockefeller, PBS - American Experience - Biography of John D. Rockefeller, Senior, Ohio History Central - Biography of John D. Rockefeller, United States History - Biography of John D. Rockefeller. Even more critical, the invention of the light bulb gradually began to erode the dominance of kerosene for illumination. John D Rockefeller was a businessman who emerged as one of the men with largest fortune in history. [1] According to some methods of wealth calculation, Rockefeller's net worth over the last decades of his life would easily place him as the wealthiest known person in recent history. Rockefeller had entered the raucous oil business during the Civil War, when oil often sold for a dollar a gallon. Rockefeller then ordered the issuance of certificates against oil stored in its pipelines. [23] In between the births of Lucy and John, Bill and his mistress and housekeeper Nancy Brown had a daughter named Clorinda who died young. 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. 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. [87], Rockefeller, who had rarely sold shares, held over 25% of Standard's stock at the time of the breakup. American industrialist John D. Rockefeller built his first oil refinery near Cleveland and in 1870 incorporated the Standard Oil Company. John D. Rockefeller, in full John Davison Rockefeller, (born July 8, 1839, Richford, New York, U.S.died May 23, 1937, Ormond Beach, Florida), American industrialist and philanthropist, founder of the Standard Oil Company, which dominated the oil industry and was the first great U.S. business trust. [27] As Rockefeller's wealth grew, so did his giving, primarily to educational and public health causes, but also for basic science and the arts. 187072 By 1901 he began wearing toupes and by 1902, his mustache disappeared. Rockefeller liked the Ormond Beach area so much that after four seasons at the hotel, he bought an estate in Ormond Beach called The Casements. [63], Standard countered, held back its shipments, and, with the help of other railroads, started a price war that dramatically reduced freight payments and caused labor unrest. 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. [53], On January 10, 1870, Rockefeller abolished the partnership of Rockefeller, Andrews & Flagler,[54] forming Standard Oil of Ohio. Pratt's son, Charles Millard Pratt, became secretary of Standard Oil. [110] The foundation helped in World War I war relief,[122] and it employed William Lyon Mackenzie King of Canada to study industrial relations. Striking miners were forced to abandon their homes in company towns and lived in tent cities erected by the union, such as the tent city at Ludlow, a railway stop north of Trinidad.[94]. We correct them as soon as they come to our knowledge. 186365 Rockefeller builds his first oil refinery, near Cleveland. I dropped the worry on the way [108] John Rockefeller was impressed by the vision of the school and removed the debt from the school. [50], In 1866, William Rockefeller Jr., John's brother, built another refinery in Cleveland and brought John into the partnership. A deal brokered by Henry Clay Frick exchanged Standard's iron interests for U.S. Steel stock and gave Rockefeller and his son membership on the company's board of directors. WebTwo things about the oil industry, however, bothered Rockefeller right from the start: the appalling waste and the fluctuating prices. [128], Henry Morrison Flagler, one of the co-founders of Standard Oil along with Rockefeller, bought the Ormond Hotel in 1890, located in Ormond Beach, Florida, two years after it opened. [108] John and Laura donated money and supported the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary whose mission was in line with their faith based beliefs. It had become the richest, biggest, most feared business in the world, seemingly immune to the boom and bust of the business cycle, consistently making profits year after year. [121] It also built the Peking Union Medical College in China into a notable institution. 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. A state agency created by Governor Carlson, offered work to unemployed miners building roads and doing other useful projects. Rockefeller prevailed and the railroad sold its oil interests to Standard. 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." In these negotiations, he learned that posted transportation rates that were believed to be fixed could be altered depending on conditions and timing of freight and through the use of rebates to preferred shippers. There was no one to take my place. Biographer Allan Nevins, answering Rockefeller's enemies, concluded: The rise of the Standard Oil men to great wealth was not from poverty. Sold by his heirs in 1939,[131] it was purchased by the city in 1974 and now serves as a cultural center and is the community's best-known historical structure. [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. [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. Coal had previously been used to extract kerosene, but its tedious extraction process and high price prevented broad use. On Gates' advice, Rockefeller became one of the first great benefactors of medical science. Today known as Spelman College, the school is an all women Historically Black College or University in Atlanta, Georgia, named after Laura's family. [9] His fortune was mainly used to create the modern systematic approach of targeted philanthropy through the creation of foundations that had a major effect on medicine, education, and scientific research. [39] Rockefeller went steadily ahead in business from there, making money each year of his career. It changed its name to Rockefeller University in 1965, after expanding its mission to include graduate education. In 1862, a barrel (42 gallons) of oil dropped in value from $4.00 to 35 cents. 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. Few miners actually belonged to the union or participated in the strike call, but the majority honored it. WebHow did John Rockefeller gain his wealth? By 1882 Standard Oil had a near monopoly on the oil business in the United States. Pennsylvania revoked the cartel's charter, and non-preferential rates were restored for the time being. WebJohn D. Rockefeller. 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. Rockefeller was the eldest son and second of six children born to traveling physician and snake-oil salesman William (Big Bill) Avery Rockefeller and Eliza Davison Rockefeller. American industrialist John D. Rockefeller built his first oil refinery near Cleveland and in 1870 incorporated the Standard Oil Company. His business hurt many of his workers and many other small businesses with the monopoly that he created. Within two years it is the largest refinery in the area. Bill once bragged, "I cheat my boys every chance I get. 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. He quickly found success as it became the largest refinery in the area, and Due to reduced demand for coal, resulting from an economic downturn, many of CF&I's coal mines never reopened and many men were thrown out of work. US Gross Domestic Product 19131939 Stuck on Stupid: U.S. Economy. 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. Mr. Rockefeller financed the construction of museums in Mesa Verde, Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone national parks. The oil fortunes of 1894 were not larger than steel fortunes, banking fortunes, and railroad fortunes made in similar periods. [109] Rockefeller also gave considerable donations to Denison University[110] and other Baptist colleges. 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]. [141], His wealth continued to grow significantly (in line with U.S. economic growth) as the demand for gasoline soared, eventually reaching about $900million on the eve of the First World War, including significant interests in banking, shipping, mining, railroads, and other industries. His General Education Board made a dramatic impact by funding the recommendations of the Flexner Report of 1910. [123], In the 1920s, the Rockefeller Foundation funded a hookworm eradication campaign through the International Health Division. The Spelman Family, Rockefeller's in-laws, along with John Rockefeller were ardent abolitionists before the Civil War and were dedicated to supporting the Underground Railroad. Standard Oil adapted by developing a European presence, expanding into natural gas production in the U.S., and then producing gasoline for automobiles, which until then had been considered a waste product. Critics found his writing to be sanitized and disingenuous and thought that statements such as "the underlying, essential element of success in business are to follow the established laws of high-class dealing" seemed to be at odds with his true business methods. To critics Rockefeller replied, "In a business so large as ours some things are likely to be done which we cannot approve. By 1868, with Rockefeller continuing practices of borrowing and reinvesting profits, controlling costs, and using refineries' waste, the company owned two Cleveland refineries and a marketing subsidiary in New York; it was the largest oil refinery in the world. 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. [88] He and all of the other stockholders received proportionate shares in each of the 34 companies. John D. had spent a lifetime trying to bury the truth about a relative whose actions threatened the entire empire he had worked so hard to build. 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. It was not meteor-like, but accomplished over a quarter of a century by courageous venturing in a field so risky that most large capitalists avoided it, by arduous labors, and by more sagacious and farsighted planning than had been applied to any other American industry. [5] His personal wealth was estimated in 1913 at $900million, which was almost 3% of the US GDP of $39.1billion that year. A major New York refiner, Charles Pratt and Company, headed by Charles Pratt and Henry H. Rogers, led the opposition to this plan, and railroads soon backed off. Rogers, in particular, became one of Rockefeller's key men in the formation of the Standard Oil Trust. This touched off a firestorm of protest from independent oil well owners, including boycotts and vandalism, which led to the discovery of Standard Oil's part in the deal. Money making was considered by him a "God-given gift".[101]. He ran it until 1897 and remained its largest shareholder. [94], The casualties suffered at Ludlow mobilized public opinion against the Rockefellers and the coal industry. Philanthropy Roundtable - Biography of John Rockefeller Sr. John D. Rockefeller - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), John D. Rockefeller - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). But they had never played fair, and that ruined their greatness for me." 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 For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Udo Hielscher: Historische amerikanische Aktien, p. 68 74, Laughlin, Rosemary. Ohio was especially vigorous in applying its state antitrust laws, and finally forced a separation of Standard Oil of Ohio from the rest of the company in 1892, the first step in the dissolution of the trust. In 1870 Rockefeller and a few associates, a group that included American financier Henry M. Flagler, incorporated the Standard Oil Company (Ohio). Alternate titles: John Davison Rockefeller. WebBy 1858, Rockefeller had more responsibilities at Hewitt & Tuttle. That orderly, economic, efficient flow is what we now, many years later, call 'vertical integration' I do not know whether Mr. Rockefeller ever used the word 'integration'. He was a faithful congregant of the Erie Street Baptist Mission Church, taught Sunday school, and served as a trustee, clerk, and occasional janitor. The railroads competed fiercely for traffic and, in an attempt to create a cartel to control freight rates, formed the South Improvement Company offering special deals to bulk customers like Standard Oil, outside the main oil centers. In the same letter, Rockefeller writes that he has "always stood for whatever measure seemed at the time to give promise of promoting temperance." They include politicians and writers, some of whom served Rockefeller's interests, and some of whom built their careers by fighting Rockefeller and the "robber barons". John D. Rockefeller was an American business magnate and philanthropist. He felt at ease and righteous following Methodist preacher John Wesley's dictum, "gain all you can, save all you can, and give all you can. 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. The capital expenditures for a refinery at that time were small around $1,000 to $1,500 and requiring only a few men to operate. "[43] At that time, the Federal government was subsidizing oil prices, driving the price up from $.35 a barrel in 1862 to as high as $13.75. 2001. [138], Biographer Ron Chernow wrote of Rockefeller:[139], What makes him problematicand why he continues to inspire ambivalent reactionsis that his good side was every bit as good as his bad side was bad. 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." 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. "John D. Rockefeller: Oil Baron and Philanthropist." Instead of using his father's method of presence to collect debts, Rockefeller relied on a persistent pestering approach. However, his mother was more influential in his upbringing and beyond, while he distanced himself further and further from his father as his life progressed. By 1882 Standard Oil had a near monopoly on the oil business in the United States. August 2, 1896 An article documents Rockefellers life and his rise to wealth, from poverty to possessing millions of dollars. In 1870 Rockefeller established the Standard Oil Company. After the war, he donated land for the United Nations headquarters, a gift that figured prominently in the decision to By the time he was twenty, his charity exceeded ten percent of his income. I was willing that they should combine and grow as big and wealthy as they could, but only by legitimate means. [78] More threatening to Standard's power was the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, originally used to control unions, but later central to the breakup of the Standard Oil trust. He even gave dimes as a playful gesture to wealthy men, such as tire mogul Harvey Firestone. [129][130] It would be Rockefeller's winter home during the latter part of his life. [55], Part of this scheme was the announcement of sharply increased freight charges. Tar was used for paving, naphtha shipped to gas plants. Rockefeller was also given the duties of collecting debts when Hewitt instructed him to do so. That fact enabled the company to negotiate with railroads for favoured rates on its shipments of oil. I want to make 'em sharp." The commercial oil business was then in its infancy. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. It added its own pipelines, tank cars, and home delivery network. But by 1932, Rockefeller felt disillusioned by prohibition because of its failure to discourage drinking and alcoholism. In 1867, Henry Morrison Flagler became a partner, and the firm of Rockefeller, Andrews & Flagler was established. He moved with his family to Moravia, New York, and, in 1851, to Oswego, New York, where he attended Oswego Academy. Early in his life, he regularly went with his siblings and mother Eliza to the local Baptist churchthe Erie Street Baptist Church (later the Euclid Avenue Baptist Church)an independent Baptist church which eventually came to associate with the Northern Baptist Convention (19071950; modern American Baptist Churches USA). [126], Rockefeller became well known in his later life for the practice of giving dimes to adults and nickels to children wherever he went. Consequently, Rockefeller became the country's first billionaire, with a fortune worth nearly 2% of the national economy. 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. 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. In 1877, Standard clashed with Thomas A. Scott, the president of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Standard's chief hauler. [83] "[101], Rockefeller would support Baptist missionary activity, fund universities, and heavily engage in religious activities at his Cleveland, Ohio, church. His hair never grew back, but other health complaints subsided as he lightened his workload. WebAfter dropping out of high school, taking one business class at Folsom Mercantile College, and working as a bookkeeper, Rockefeller establishes his first business, which supplies goods such as hay, grain, and meats. [86], In 1902, facing cash flow problems, John Cleveland Osgood turned to George Jay Gould, a principal stockholder of the Denver and Rio Grande, for a loan. Nine trustees, including Rockefeller, ran the 41 companies in the trust. In February 1914, a substantial portion of the troops were withdrawn, but a large contingent remained at Ludlow. "But it was simply out of the question. [citation needed], In 1864, Rockefeller married Laura Celestia "Cettie" Spelman (18391915), daughter of Harvey Buell Spelman and Lucy Henry. John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937), founder of the Standard Oil Company, became one of the worlds wealthiest men and a major philanthropist. Rockefeller had only $800 saved up at the time and so borrowed $1,000 from his father, "Big Bill" Rockefeller, at 10 percent interest. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. John D. Rockefeller was an American business magnate and philanthropist. I, 1879)", "Militia slaughters strikers at Ludlow, Colorado", "Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial Foundation", "Text of Rockefeller's Letter to Dr. Butler", "John D. Rockefeller Sr. and family timeline", "John D Rockefeller:Infinitely Ruthless, Profoundly Charitable", "The Richest Man In History: Rockefeller is Born", "Financier's Fortune in Oil Amassed in Industrial Era of 'Rugged Individualism', "Toward a 'Universal Heritage': Education and the Development of Rockefeller Philanthropy, 18841913", Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey v. United States, Standard Oil Co. v. United States (Standard Stations), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_D._Rockefeller&oldid=1138196481, American businesspeople in the oil industry, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from February 2021, Articles with incomplete citations from February 2021, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles with incomplete citations from May 2021, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from January 2023, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2016, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2017, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2016, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2016, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2020, Pages using Sister project links with wikidata namespace mismatch, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Alice Rockefeller (July 14, 1869 August 20, 1870), Public Diary of John D. Rockefeller, now found in the Cleveland Western Historical Society, This page was last edited on 8 February 2023, at 14:21. [89] Gould, via Frederick Taylor Gates, Rockefeller's financial adviser, brought John D. Rockefeller in to help finance the loan. The price of the refined oil in 1863 was around $13 a barrel, with a profit margin of around $5 to $8 a barrel. [115] In keeping with the historic missions of the Baptists, it was especially active in supporting black schools in the South. He gave money to the Union cause, as did many rich Northerners who avoided combat. Throughout his life, Bill was notorious for conducting schemes. Rockefeller envisioned pipelines as an alternative transport system for oil and began a campaign to build and acquire them. [69] The "trust" was a corporation of corporations, and the entity's size and wealth drew much attention. He complained that he could not stay asleep most nights. WebBy 1858, Rockefeller had more responsibilities at Hewitt & Tuttle. [citation needed] [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. What were John D. Rockefellers accomplishments?
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