The History Channel is premiering an eight-hour event series called The Men Who Built America on Tuesday, October 16 at 9 p.m. and will chronicle the lives of Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jon D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan and Henry Ford.
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John Davison Rockefeller was born July 8, 139 in Richford, New York to his parents William Avery Rockefeller and Eliza Davison. As a child Rockefeller was well-mannered, serious and religious. He was a great debater who loved music (even dreaming of a career in music). He also showcased a knack for numbers and accounting.
He was an oil mogul from the United States, who brought innovation to the oil industry and developed the foundation of modern philanthropy. Rockefeller's business was the Standard Oil Company, and he ran his company actively and boldly until he retired in 1897. Following his retirement, the large majority of his wealth was used toward philanthropy with a major concentration on medicine, education and scientific research. In addition the the oil magnate established the University of Chicago and Rockefeller University.
As the oil industry grew and expanded, Rockefeller acquired so much wealth that he was the richest man in the world. He was the first American that was worth over a billion dollars and widely considered to be the richest person in the entire history.
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Rockefeller believed religion was the reason for his success. He even remarked “God gave me money”.
Quotations from Rockefeller
If you want to succeed you should strike out on new paths, rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success.
Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.
I would rather earn 1% off a 100 people's efforts than 100% of my own efforts.
Image Credit: TheFamousPeople.com