Andrew C

Andrew Carnegie was an intelligent Scottish immigrant that excelled in the steel and oil industries. He provided our country with inexpensive steel that allowed other industries to thrive. Carnegie was also a generous and well-known philanthropist.

Andrew Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, Scotland November 25, 1835. His parents, William and Margaret Carnegie, were impoverished iron mill workers. They immigrated to the United States in search of employment and opportunities in 1848.

Andrew Carnegie obtained a variety of occupations since his first arrival to

America. His first job, at age thirteen, was a bobbin boy in a local cotton mill. At fifteen,

Carnegie delivered telegrams for the Western Union. This job paid twenty-five dollars a month, which was considered a phenomenal amount of money at this time. At age 17,

Carnegie had a job with the Pennsylvania Railroad. This job involved sending and receiving telegrams to benefit each train’s safety; he was now earning thirty-five dollars a month. In the 1850’s the major form of transportation used was the railroad. People would take the train for traveling to different areas around the

country. Unfortunately, the ride to these distant destinations was quite uncomfortable.

The passengers’ complaints increased.

Theodore Woodruff developed sleeping cars that introduced passengers to more comfortable rides. Through the persuasion of his boss, Carnegie bought a share in this particular company while working for the Pennsylvania Railroad. Carnegie’s boss urged him to purchase one-eighth share in this company. The share’s money supply sharply increased due to the excessive amount of railroad companies that wished to please their passengers. From the success of his stock with the sleeping car company, Carnegie was able to place his money in other lucrative opportunities. At the age of twenty-four, Carnegie was soon aware of the oil being utilized by the Seneca Indians in Titsuville, Pennsylvania.

Realizing his opportunity, Carnegie decided to buy land in a near by area. The oil on the land provided Carnegie and his brother with an ample supply of money. The land itself had increased in value by 125%.

In 1870, Carnegie changed his job to become an iron master. Carnegie transposed the old iron making procedure with his new routine. He

assiduously combined three ingredients – iron ore, coke, and limestone – to produce an essential product.

Iron manufacturers discovered that certain ores shouldn’t be combined with each other. By hiring a chemist, Carnegie’s ores were assorted into their specific group.

Carnegie was then the first iron mill owner to have a chemist.

Carnegie assisted many companies with the makings of bridges, locomotives, and other products that relied on iron.