Andrew Carnegie Rose from poverty to make $65 billion.
Andrew Carnegie from poor messenger boy to wealthy magnate. Born on Wednesday the 25th of November 1835. Andrew Carnegie went from a poor messenger boy from the Pittsburgh Sun - Telegraphy office to became a self-made steel tycoon.
A philanthropist and one of the wealthiest and champion years of the 19th century. In today’s blog we’ll be looking at the life of Andrew Carnegie.
To use his life story to inspire young people, who may be discouraged about life. We hope this blog gives you the courage. You need to believe in yourself and pursue your biggest dreams. If you’re new here consider subscribing. So that you won’t miss other interesting blog like this.
Early life Andrew was born in Dufermline, Scotland to William Carnegie and Margaret Morrison Carnegie. And late with his family in just one main room. Whose ground floor was also shared with the neighboring, Weaver’s family.
This main room served as the family’s living room, bedroom, and dining room. In 1836 and his father got a better income and moved the family to the bigger apartment. Andrew attended a free school in Dufermline. Which was gifted to the town by philanthropist Adam Roland.
Andrews father lost his weekend job due to the invention of weaving machines. And this led his family back into extreme poverty. In 1848 when Andrew was 13, William left Scotland with his family to Algun Ect in Pennsylvania. Well he got a job in a cotton factory. Earning $120 per week.
In 1846, Andrew got a job as a messenger of a Pittsburgh Sun - Telegraphy office. His unrelenting desire to advance his career moved him to become a telegraph operator in 1851.
In 1853, Andrew now 18. Got a job at the Pennsylvania Railroad. He worked as a telegraph and secretary to Thomas Scott the superintendent at the railroad. Andrews father died in 1855. But Andrew desire to catch for his family led him to education himself. Eastern street sufficient money to buy a house for his mother.
A few years later he took up Scott small job as superintendent of the Pennsylvania railroad.
STEEL TYCOON:
German his job at the railroad. Andrew began to learn about business and investments. He soon began to make investment in steel and oil. Which brought in substantial returns.
In 1865 Andrew lectures job on the railroad to focus on offer business interest. About ten years later, Andrew concentrated most of his time in the steel industry. And in 1889, he owned his business Buchan Carnegie steel corporation. His business revolutionized steel production in the U.S using methods and technologies that made manufacturing faster, easier and more productive.
Andrew built several steel plants around the country. He owned everything needed for his business process the raw materials. Coalfields fulfill and a steel furnaces and the railroads and ships for moving the products. This strategy helped Andrews become an exceedingly wealthy man and dominant force in the steel industry.
Andrew was referred to as one of America’s builders, his business does not help to fuel America’s economy. But it also helps to shaped the U.S into what it is today. Carnegie Steel Corporation grew to become the largest steel industry in the world.
Andrew also published an article titled “Wealth”. where he stated that rich men in society have a duty to improve the welfare of society with their money.
HIS MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN:
Andrew remained on married until his mother’s death in 1886. Possibly due to his love and desire to care for his family. In 1887 he married Louise Whitfield Carnegie. The couple had only one daughter Margaret Carnegie Miller.
Though Andrew and his family began to spend six months in Scotland. Each year he kept a keen eye on business problems and development at the expense of his love life.
TRIALS AND CONTROVERSIES:
Many believe that Andrews success came at the expense of his employees. This evident in a notable homestead strike of 1892. Andrew had acquired another Carnegie steel plant in hosted where he invested heavily in new equipment and plants.
He automated most of the plant’s operations increased production and cut down the number of employees. This employees formed a union with which the steel company established work agreements and wages.
However while Andrew was away to Scotland his partner an associated Henry Clay Frick, who decided to cut down on the minimum wage of the employees. Because of the need for fewer workers.
The Employees Union the Alma Committed Association of iron and steel Workers didn’t accept this. But instead organized a strike. Andrew had instructed Frick before he left for Scotland. That if the new agreement lease was strike, the steel plant should be shut down.
However Frick who was well known for his Anti-Union Sentiment. Chose to open the plan by force, he also decided to break the union by employing replacement workers from the Pinkerton Agency. A serious fight ensured between the strikers and the Pinkerton agency who later surrendered to the strikers.
Three Pinkerton and five strikers were killed and many were injured. Since the strikers won the plant remained closed. But it was reopened by the governor of Pennsylvania. Five days later and two months later the strike was called off by the Union.
Although Andrew was away at the time of the strike. He was still held accountable for freaks actions due to his lack of action. As a result his reputation was permanently dented by the event. In later 1980’s Andrew began to face strong competition from newer bigger firms, who a concern would share in the market and control prices firms.
He has supplying for years, threatened to reduce their purchases unless he agrees to cooperate and refuse to agree with their agreements. But decided to expand his market into the west.
This however led to fall of the company. Eventually Andrew sold his company in 1901 to the newly formed United States Steel Corporation for about 500 million dollars. Though he only earned about two hundred and twenty five million dollars as his share.
PHILANTHROPY:
After selling his company, Andrew decided to spend the rest of his days as a philanthropist. Which he began by making donations and building libraries. Being an avid reader himself, Andrew donated about five million dollars to the New York Public Library to open more branches.
In 1904, he founded the Carnegie Institute of Technology. Now called the Carnegie Mellon University after merging with the Mellon Institute of Industrial research in Pittsburgh.
In 1905,he founded the Carnegie foundation for the Advancement of teaching. In 1910, he launched the Carnegie Endowment for international peace. Andrew made several other donations and supported the opening of more than 2,800 libraries.
His interest in music also led him to fund the construction of more than 6,500 church organs.
HIS DEATH:
Andrew also enjoyed traveling and meeting and entertaining notable personalities. Died on the 11th of August 1919 at his Shadow Brook Estate in Lenox Massachusetts. He reportedly died of bronchial pneumonia.
Before his death Andrew had already donated 76.9 billion of his wealth in all. After his death his remaining 30 million was given away to pensioners to charities and foundations.
Andrew was buried at the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in New York. So who is Andrew Carnegie. He is a selfish man who did not allow his extreme poor background to dictate his destiny.
He grew from the poverty but he was determined to succeed and also help others to succeed. Are you out there buckle down by hardships and feeling a little lost. we are here to challenge you to look beyond these hard days.
Stand up and fight against the trial you faced and focus on achieving your goals as Andrew Carnegie did. Thank you very much for reading our blogs. I’d like to give you another interesting blogs for you to enjoy next.
Well before then our team will be very happy. If you can like this blogs and share it with your friends on social media. Ever you’re new here don’t forget to subscribe, so you won’t miss other interesting blogs like this.
We love you,,,
