For other people named John D. Rockefeller, see John D. Rockefeller (disambiguation).
| John D. Rockefeller | |
|---|---|
John D. Rockefeller in 1885
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| Born | John Davison Rockefeller July 8, 1839 Richford, New York, U.S. |
| Died | May 23, 1937 (aged 97) The Casements, Ormond Beach, Florida, United States |
| Resting place | Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland, Ohio, United States 41.511°N 81.591°W |
| Occupation |
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| Net worth |  $663.4 billion in 2007 dollars, according to List of wealthiest historical figures, based on information from Forbes – February 2008. |
| Religion | Baptist |
John Davison Rockefeller (July 8, 1839 – May 23, 1937) was an American industrialist and philanthropist. He was the founder of theStandard Oil Company, which dominated the oil industry and was the first great U.S. business trust. Rockefeller revolutionized thepetroleum industry and defined the structure of modern philanthropy. In 1870, he founded Standard Oil Company and aggressively ran it until he officially retired in 1897.[1]
Rockefeller founded Standard Oil as an Ohio partnership with his brother William along with Henry Flagler, Jabez Bostwick, chemistSamuel Andrews, and a silent partner, Stephen V. Harkness. As kerosene and gasoline grew in importance, Rockefeller's wealth soared and he became the world's richest man and the first American worth more than a billion dollars.[a] Adjusting for inflation, he is often regarded as the richest person in history.[2][3][4][5]
Rockefeller spent the last 40 years of his life in retirement in his domicile in Kykuit, Westchester County, New York. His fortune was mainly used to create the modern systematic approach of targeted philanthropy. He was able to do this through the creation of foundations that had a major effect on medicine, education and scientific research.[6] His foundations pioneered the development of medical research and were instrumental in the eradication of hookworm and yellow fever.
Rockefeller was also the founder of both the University of Chicago and Rockefeller University and funded the establishment of Central Philippine University in the Philippines. He was a devoted Northern Baptist and supported many church-based institutions. Rockefeller adhered to total abstinence from alcohol and tobacco throughout his life.
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