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Andrew Carnegie is Born
Andrew Carnegie is born in Dunfermline, Scotland, to Margaret and Will Carnegie. Will Carnegie is a skilled weaver, and the Carnegies are one of the many working-class families in Dunfermline. -
Steam-Powered Looms
Steam-powered looms are introduced in Scotland and hundreds of handloom workers are unemployed, including Andrew's father, Will. -
Carnegie Family Emigrates to the U.S.
The Carnegies emigrate to the U.S. They settle in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Image: Photo of Andrew Carnegie at sixteen with his younger brother Thomas shortly after their arrival in America -
Andrew Carnegie Becomes a Messenger Boy
Andrew works as a messenger boy in a telegraph office and is later promoted to the position of telegraph operator. -
Andrew Carnegie Takes a Job at the Pennsylvania Railroad
Andrew takes a new job as the personal telegrapher and assistant to Thomas Scott, the superintendent of the Pennsylvania Railroad's western division. -
Andrew Carnegie Invests in Sleeping Cars
Carnegie invests in sleeping cars and after two years begins receiving a return of about $5,000 annually, more than three times his salary from the railroad. -
Andrew Carnegie Invests in Oil
Using money from his investment in sleeping cars, Carnegie invests in an oil company and begins to accumulate wealth. -
Carnegie Founds Keystone Bridge Company
Carnegie founds the Keystone Bridge Company, which becomes an important American bridge-building firm, holding numerous patents. It is best known for building the Eads Bridge in St. Louis, completed in 1874. -
Carnegie Pledges to Resign From Business
Carnegie writes himself a letter which outlines his plans for the future. He determines to resign from business at age 35 and live on an income of $50,000 per year, devoting the remainder of his money to philanthropic causes, and most of his time to his
education. -
First Steel Plant
Andrew Carnegie opens his first steel plant in Braddock,
Pennsylvania. -
Carnegie Buys the Homestead Steel Works
Andrew Carnegie purchases the Homestead Steel Works, a rival steel company in Pennsylvania. -
Triumphant Democracy
Carnegie publishes a book entitled Triumphant Democracy, which sells over 70,000 copies and celebrates the American belief in democracy and capitalism. -
Andrew Carnegie Marries Louise Whitfield
Louise Whitfield, the daughter of a New York City merchant, is 30 years old at the time of her marriage to Andrew Carnegie, who is 51. -
Founding Libraries
Beginning in 1888 with a free library in Braddock, Pennsylvania, Andrew Carnegie invests in founding libraries in the U.S. and abroad, eventually helping to establish over 2,500 such institutions. He becomes known as the great patron of libraries worldwide. -
Gospel of Wealth Published
Andrew Carnegie publishes an article that comes to be called The Gospel of Wealth, arguing that the wealthy have a moral obligation to serve as stewards for society. By the next year, Carnegie's annual income is $25 million. -
Carnegie Steel is Formed
Andrew Carnegie forms the Carnegie Steel Company in
1892 and incorporates many technological innovations into the production of steel. -
Margaret Carnegie is born
Andrew and Louise Carnegie’s only child, Margaret Carnegie, is born in 1897. In that same year, the Carnegies buy Skibo Castle in Scotland, where they will spend their summers. -
Carnegie Institute of Technology is Established
First known as the Carnegie Technical Schools, or Carnegie Tech, the Carnegie Institute of Technology—now part of Carnegie Mellon University—is founded by Andrew Carnegie as a “first class technical school” in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the sons of local steel mill workers. -
Carnegie Sells to Morgan
Andrew Carnegie sells his steel company to J.P. Morgan for
$480 million, a move that allows Morgan to create US Steel, and makes Carnegie the richest man in the world. -
Andrew Carnegie buys Pittencrieff Park
Andrew Carnegie buys Pittencrieff Park in Dunfermline, Scotland, his hometown, and gifts it to the people of the city. Before this purchase, members of the public were rarely allowed on the park grounds. -
Carnegie Teachers' Pension Fund is Established
Concerned that in retirement, poverty afflicts most teachers—who Andrew Carnegie views as important contributors to the strength of America—Carnegie establishes a pension fund for them. Now known as TIAA-CREF, it is now the leading retirement provider for people who work in the academic, research, medical and cultural fields. -
Andrew Carnegie Establishes the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Increasingly concerned that international conflicts will lead to world-wide war, Andrew Carnegie creates the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. -
Carnegie Corporation of New York is Founded
Andrew Carnegie establishes Carnegie Corporation of New York, a philanthropic foundation. He endows it with the bulk of his fortune, $135,000,000, and mandates that its grantmaking be dedicated to “the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding.” -
The Peace Palace is Established
The Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, is financed by Andrew Carnegie. It is often called the seat of international law because it houses the International Court of Justice. -
The Carnegie UK Trust is Established
During his lifetime, Andrew Carnegie created more than twenty organizations and institutions dedicated to advancing education; promoting peace, global security and international ethics; recognizing heroic individuals; making scientific contributions; and much more. One of the last institutions he created was the Carnegie UK Trust, which works to improve the lives of people throughout the UK and Ireland. -
World War I Begins
As World War I breaks out, Carnegie leaves Scotland and his beloved Skibo Castle for the last time. -
Andrew Carnegie dies
Andrew Carnegie dies at Shadow Brook Castle, his home in
Massachusetts. He is buried in Sleepy Hollow, New York.
