50 Facts About John D. Rockefeller

1. John Davison Rockefeller was born on July 8, 1839, in Richford, New York, to William Avery Rockefeller and Eliza Davison Rockefeller.

2. He was the second of six children in his family.

3. His father was a con artist who traveled around the country selling fake medicines, and his mother was a devout Baptist who instilled in him a strong sense of religious faith and moral values.

4. Rockefeller’s family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, when he was a child, and he attended high school in Cleveland but did not graduate.

5. As a young man, Rockefeller worked as a clerk in a produce commission business and later became a bookkeeper for a shipping firm.

6. Rockefeller married his wife, Laura Spelman, in 1864, and they had five children together.

7. Rockefeller was a devout Baptist throughout his life and donated heavily to religious causes, including building many churches.

8. He was also a teetotaler who never drank alcohol or smoked tobacco.

9. Rockefeller was known for his frugality and lived a simple lifestyle despite his immense wealth.

10 Rockefeller lived to be 97 years old, passing away on May 23, 1937.

11. In 1859, Rockefeller went into business with Maurice B. Clark and Samuel Andrews, forming the firm Andrews, Clark & Co.

12. In 1863, Rockefeller and his partners bought out Clark’s share of the business and renamed it Rockefeller, Andrews & Flagler.

13. Rockefeller’s company was involved in the refining of crude oil, which was booming in the United States at the time.

14. In 1870, Rockefeller and his partners formed the Standard Oil Company, which quickly became the largest oil refiner in the world.

15. Standard Oil used aggressive business tactics to eliminate competition, including buying out rival companies and pressuring railroads to give them preferential treatment.

16. By the 1880s, Standard Oil controlled more than 90% of the oil refining in the United States.

17. Rockefeller became one of the richest men in the world through his ownership of Standard Oil.

18. In 1911, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Standard Oil was an illegal monopoly and ordered it to be broken up into smaller companies.

19. Rockefeller continued to invest in other industries, including railroads, mining, and real estate, after the breakup of Standard Oil.

20. Rockefeller was also a philanthropist who donated millions of dollars to various causes, including education, medical research, and the arts.

21. Standard Oil’s aggressive business tactics and monopoly power made Rockefeller and his company the subject of intense scrutiny and criticism. Critics accused Standard Oil of engaging in price fixing, bribery, and other unethical business practices.

22. Rockefeller was often portrayed in the media as a ruthless and greedy capitalist who cared only about making money.

23. The breakup of Standard Oil in 1911 was a major blow to Rockefeller’s power and reputation.

24.  In later years, Rockefeller was criticized for his association with the eugenics movement, which advocated for the selective breeding of humans to improve the genetic quality of the population.

25. Rockefeller donated heavily to eugenics research and was a member of several eugenics organizations.

26. Rockefeller’s legacy is complex and controversial, with many people viewing him as a symbol of American capitalism at its worst.

27. However, others see him as a visionary entrepreneur who played a crucial role in shaping the modern world.

28. Rockefeller donated more than $500 million to various causes during his lifetime, including founding the Rockefeller Foundation, which has supported scientific research, public health, and the arts.

29. Rockefeller also founded the Rockefeller University, a world-renowned center for biomedical research.

30. Rockefeller’s philanthropic efforts helped to establish the field of modern medicine and supported important public health initiatives such as the eradication of hookworm and yellow fever.

31. The Rockefeller family remains one of the wealthiest and most influential families in the world, with members involved in various industries and philanthropic causes.

32. Rockefeller’s business tactics and the monopoly power of Standard Oil contributed to the passage of antitrust laws in the United States.

33. Rockefeller’s wealth and power also helped to shape American politics, with his influence extending to both major political parties.

34. Rockefeller’s legacy is still debated and discussed today, with many people questioning the ethics of his business practices and his associations with controversial movements such as eugenics.

35. Rockefeller was known for his discipline and work ethic, often working long hours and constantly striving to improve himself and his businesses.

36. Rockefeller was a quiet and reserved person who was uncomfortable in social situations and preferred to spend time with his family and close associates.

37. Rockefeller was also a keen collector of art, rare books, and other cultural artifacts, and his collection formed the basis of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

38. Rockefeller was a devoted husband and father who valued his family above all else.

39. Rockefeller was deeply affected by the death of his daughter, Bessie, from scarlet fever at the age of four.

40. Rockefeller’s business practices were controversial and often criticized, but he believed that he was providing a valuable service to the American people by producing oil at a lower cost than his competitors.

41. Rockefeller’s success was due in part to his innovative business strategies, such as vertical integration and the use of pipelines to transport oil.

42. He also invested heavily in research and development, constantly seeking new ways to improve his company’s efficiency and profitability.

43. Rockefeller believed in the importance of education and encouraged his employees to pursue higher education and professional development.

44. He also believed in the importance of giving back to the community and was a generous philanthropist throughout his life.

45. Rockefeller believed that wealth came with a responsibility to use it for the benefit of society.

46. Rockefeller donated heavily to educational institutions, including the University of Chicago and Spelman College, a historically black college for women.

47. Rockefeller also supported medical research, donating to organizations such as the American Cancer Society and the National Institute of Health.

48. Rockefeller’s philanthropy extended to the arts, with his support of organizations such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

49. Rockefeller is often cited as one of the most successful entrepreneurs in American history, with his innovations in the oil industry and his focus on efficiency and cost savings setting a new standard for business practices.

50. Rockefeller’s philanthropic efforts helped to shape the field of modern medicine and support important public health initiatives, and his support of education and the arts has had a lasting impact on American culture.

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