Andrew Carnegie

Andrew Carnegie was first born on November 25, 1835 in Dunfermline, Scotland. He was born to a poor family, though he grew up in a cultured home. Most of Carnegie's family was self-taught. His father, William Carnegie, was politically active and usually wrote to the newspaper. Andrew Carnegie's uncle, George Lauder, introduced him to the writings of Shakespeare and Robert Burns. He also influenced Carnegie's later views of America.

In the 1840's, an economic crisis in Scotland caused many to lose jobs. This resulted in Carnegie an his family emigrating to the United States, Once there, they settled into a Scottish community in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. His first job there was at a cotton mill, where he earned $1.20 a week. Throughout this time, he educated himself through reading, writing and attending night school.

In 1851, Andrew Carnegie became a telegraph messenger boy. He frequently delivered messages to theatres, where he would convince the manager to allow him to watch the show. This would also play a apart in the donations he would make later in life as a philanthropist. While sweeping in the telegraph offices, he taught himself to recognize the sounds of incoming signals. Later, this knowledge caused him to be hired as a telegraph operator, and later to superintendent.

The first investment Andrew Carnegie made was in 1855. He was able to invest six-hundred dollars in a firm called Adams Express. Before the Civil War, Carnegie formed a partnership with the inventor of a sleeping car for first class travel. The investment proved to be a success, and at 26, Andrew Carnegie was appointed Superintendent of Military Railways.

Attractive

In 1901, Andrew Carnegie turned 66 years old, and began preparing for his retirement. In preparation, he formed his empire into conventional joint stock corporations. The banker John Pierpont Morgan was one of America's most important financial deal makers. He wanted to bring together the most efficient steel companies, which would raise the salaries