Andrew Carnegie

Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) was one of the most successful businessmen and most recognized philanthropists in history. His entrepreneurial ventures in America's steel industry earned him millions and he, in turn, made great contributions to social causes such as public libraries, education and international peace.

Andrew Carnegie was the pioneering tycoon of the Age of Steel. His steel empire produced the raw materials that built the physical infrastructure of the United States. He was a catalyst in America's participation in the Industrial Revolution, as he produced the steel to make machinery and transportation possible throughout the nation.

In his later life, he began to shift from a focus on industrialism to a more philanthropic view on life. Carnegie became the world's benefactor to education, as he is responsible for the construction and donation of approximately 2,509 public libraries in the United States, Europe and around the world.

Full name: Andrew Carnegie

Born: November 25, 1835, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland

Died: August 11, 1919

Company: Homestead Steel Works, Pennsylvania Railroad, Keystone Bridge Company