author
John D. (John Davison) Rockefeller
1839–1937
A towering figure in American business, he built Standard Oil into a dominant force and later gave away vast sums to education, medicine, and public health. His story is closely tied to both the rise of big industry and the modern idea of large-scale philanthropy.
1 Audiobook
Random Reminiscences of Men and Events
by John D. (John Davison) Rockefeller
About the author
Born in Richford, New York, in 1839, he grew up partly in Cleveland, where he began work as a teenage bookkeeper before moving into business. In 1870 he founded Standard Oil, and through relentless focus on efficiency, organization, and expansion, he became one of the most powerful figures in the early petroleum industry.
Rockefeller's success also made him one of the most controversial businessmen of his age. Standard Oil's enormous reach helped shape the modern corporation, but it also drew fierce criticism and became a central example in debates over monopoly power in the United States.
In later life, he became just as well known for philanthropy as for business. He supported major efforts in education, medical research, and public health, and his giving helped establish institutions and foundations that had a lasting impact long after his death in 1937.