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Andrew Carnegie

Andrew Carnegie was born on November 26, 1835 in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. His family was impoverished but they were dedicated to self education. Andrew’s father William, although poor, made sure he sent his son to get an education. Even though Andrew did go to school in his early years, most of his education was taught by his father and his uncle. His uncle, George Lauder, made Andrew memorize much of Robert Burns’ writings. The Carnegie family was destined to make a better life for their children and so in 1848 they emigrated to the United States. Andrew was 13 at the time. Once the Carnegies arrived in America they settled down in New Allegheny, Pennsylvania where some of their relatives already lived. Carnegie got his first job working in a cotton factory with his father. He made $1.20 a week there. At age 15 Carnegie began work as a telegraph messenger for the Ohio Telegraph company in Pittsburg. There his salary doubled to $2.50 a week. He was a very dedicated worker and taught himself how to decipher telegraph messages. This skilled opened an opportunity for him. The Pennsylvania Railroad Company hired Carnegie as a telephone operator. Once again Carnegie worked himself up to a pay raise and was now making $20.00 a month. Andrew moved swiftly through the company ranks and ultimately became superintendent of the Pittsburg Division in 1859 and brought in a salary of $1500 a year.
At the age of 19 Carnegie made his first investments. He put money into The Pennsylvania Railroad Company and also into Adams Express (which was a shipping company). Just prior to the Civil War Carnegie made large investments into oil industries. In 1863 Carnegie pulled in $42,000 and only $2400 was from his railroad salary. The rest all came from his investments. Subsequently Carnegie decides to leave the railroad business in 1865 to put all of his effort and time into his investments. Carnegie went on to found the Keystone Bridge Company...