John D. Rockefeller Biography, Age, Weight, Height, Friend, Like, Affairs, Favourite, Birthdate & Other

John Davison Rockefeller Sr. was a renowned American industrialist and philanthropist. Born in a modest family, he worked his way up to become one of the wealthiest persons in modern history. He began his career as an assistant bookkeeper at the age of 16 and by 20, he had ventured into his own business with partner Maurice B. Clark. Recognising the potential of the commercial oil business, the partners invested in a refinery at Cleveland, Ohio in 1863.

In 1870, he established the Standard Oil Company, which within a decade almost monopolized and controlled 90% of U.S. refineries and pipelines.The demand for kerosene and gasoline constantly increased among the masses and he became the richest person in the country. He had his fair share of criticism as well. He was accused of engaging in unethical business practices such as acquiring pipelines and forest areas to prevent his competitors from excelling.

In 1911, the U.S. Supreme Court found Standard Oil in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act and ordered it to dissolve. After his retirement, he became an active philanthropist and donated generously to the church, educational institutions, public health causes, and medical researches. During his lifetime, he donated more than $500 million to various charitable causes.