Andrew Carnegie.

Born 25 Nov 1835 Dunfermline, United Kingdom

Died 11 Aug 1919 Lenox, United States

Citizenship United States

7 min read

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Words

Mar 28, 2026

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Awards

TL;DR

Andrew Carnegie, born in Scotland in 1835, immigrated to the US at age 12 and built Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Steel Company. He sold it to J.P. Morgan in 1901 for $303,450,000, becoming the richest American. In his later years, he donated $350 million to libraries, universities, and peace initiatives, founding Carnegie Hall and Carnegie Mellon University.

Identity & family.

KIN · 5

Names, aliases, and relatives of Andrew Carnegie — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Aliases Andrew J. Carnegie

Parents: Margaret Morrison Carnegie William Carnegie
Spouses: Louise Whitfield
Children: Margaret Carnegie Miller
Siblings: Thomas M. Carnegie

At a glance.

STATS

Andrew Carnegie by the numbers — life, work, and family.

83 Years lived

4 Awards

1 Marriage

1 Child

Who was Andrew Carnegie?

BIOGRAPHY

Andrew Carnegie — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

At age 12 in 1848, Andrew Carnegie immigrated with his parents from Dunfermline, Scotland to the United States. The family settled in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, where young Carnegie began working as a bobbin boy in a cotton factory before becoming a telegrapher. His father William Carnegie was a handloom weaver displaced by industrialization, and his mother Margaret instilled a love of learning.

Career

By the 1860s, Carnegie had investments in railroads, sleeping cars, bridges, and oil derricks. He later founded the Carnegie Steel Company in Pittsburgh, which became the largest steel manufacturer in the world. In 1901, he sold the company to J.P. Morgan for $303,450,000, forming U.S. Steel. He also built Carnegie Hall in New York and the Peace Palace.

Personal life

Carnegie married Louise Whitfield on April 22, 1887. The couple had one daughter, Margaret Carnegie Miller. He maintained a home in New York and a summer estate in Lenox, Massachusetts, where he died on August 11, 1919.

Legacy

Carnegie’s 1889 essay The Gospel of Wealth argued that the wealthy should use their fortunes to benefit society, sparking a wave of philanthropy. He donated $350 million almost 90% of his fortune to found over 2,500 libraries, Carnegie Mellon University, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and the Carnegie Institution for Science. His influence is seen in the many institutions that bear his name, and he was posthumously inducted into the Library Hall of Fame.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 4

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Andrew Carnegie — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Library Hall of Fame
Bessemer Gold Medal
Honorary Doctorate from the National Autonomous University of Mexico
American Library Association Honorary Membership

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 2

A wall of memorable lines from Andrew Carnegie — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket’ Is All Wrong. I Tell You, ‘Put Put All Your Eggs in One Basket, and Then Watch That Basket.
There Is Not Such a Cradle of Democracy Upon the Earth as the Free Public Library, This Republic of Letters, Where Neither Rank nor Office nor Weight Receives the Slightest Consideration.

Did you know?

FACTS · 1

Little-known facts about Andrew Carnegie — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Andrew Carnegie founded the Carnegie Corporation of New York, a philanthropic foundation.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 34

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Andrew Carnegie.

When was Andrew Carnegie born?

Andrew Carnegie was born on November 25, 1835. He was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, UK.
Where was Andrew Carnegie born?

He was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, UK. This is a town in Fife, about 15 miles north of Edinburgh.
When did Andrew Carnegie die?

Andrew Carnegie died on August 11, 1919. He passed away at his estate in Lenox, Massachusetts.
How old was Andrew Carnegie when he died?

He died at the age of 83. He was born in 1835 and died in 1919.
Where did Andrew Carnegie die?

He died in Lenox, Massachusetts, USA. He had a summer estate there called Shadowbrook.
What nationality is Andrew Carnegie?

He was a naturalized citizen of the United States. He was originally a Scottish immigrant who became a U.S. citizen.
Who are Andrew Carnegie's parents?

His parents were Margaret Morrison Carnegie and William Carnegie. His father was a handloom weaver from Scotland.
Who was Andrew Carnegie married to?

He was married to Louise Whitfield. They married on April 22, 1887.
Did Andrew Carnegie have children?

Yes, he had one child: Margaret Carnegie Miller. She was their only daughter.
Did Andrew Carnegie have siblings?

Yes, he had one younger brother, Thomas M. Carnegie. Thomas was a business partner in the steel industry.
What awards did Andrew Carnegie win?

He won several awards including the Library Hall of Fame, Bessemer Gold Medal, an honorary doctorate from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and American Library Association Honorary Membership.
How many awards did Andrew Carnegie win?

He received at least four major awards. These include the Library Hall of Fame and the Bessemer Gold Medal.
What is Andrew Carnegie best known for?

He is best known for his role in the American steel industry and his large-scale philanthropy. He also appears in archive footage in films like Explained 2018 and What’s Next? the Future with Bill Gates 2024.
How tall was Andrew Carnegie?

Andrew Carnegie was 5 feet 3 inches tall, which is about 1.60 meters. He was relatively short in stature.
Did Andrew Carnegie have any aliases?

He was sometimes known as Andrew J. Carnegie. The initial J. stands for his middle name, though his full middle name is not widely recorded.
What was Andrew Carnegie known for?

He is best known as a steel magnate who built the Carnegie Steel Company and as a philanthropist who gave away $350 million. His 1889 essay The Gospel of Wealth outlined his philosophy of giving.
Was Andrew Carnegie married?

Yes, he was married to Louise Whitfield. They were married from April 22, 1887 until his death in 1919.
What was the Gospel of Wealth?

It was an 1889 essay by Andrew Carnegie arguing that the wealthy have a duty to use their fortunes for the public good. This essay stimulated a wave of philanthropy among the rich.
How much money did Andrew Carnegie donate?

He donated about $350 million during his lifetime. That amount is conservatively equivalent to $66 billion in 2024 based on percentage of GDP.
What institutions did Andrew Carnegie found?

He founded many institutions including Carnegie Hall, Carnegie Mellon University, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and the Carnegie Institution for Science. He also funded over 2,500 public libraries.
Did Andrew Carnegie have a rivalry with John D. Rockefeller?

After selling Carnegie Steel, he surpassed John D. Rockefeller as the richest American for several years. However, the source does not mention a personal rivalry, only the financial comparison.
What was Andrew Carnegie's first job?

He started work as a bobbin boy in a cotton factory at age 12 after immigrating. He later became a telegrapher, which led to his business career.
When did Andrew Carnegie immigrate to the United States?

He immigrated in 1848 at age 12. He came with his parents from Dunfermline, Scotland to Allegheny, Pennsylvania.
How old was Andrew Carnegie when he immigrated?

He was 12 years old. He was born in 1835 and moved with his family in 1848.
What happened to Andrew Carnegie's company after he sold it?

His Carnegie Steel Company was sold to J.P. Morgan in 1901 for $303,450,000 and became the core of U.S. Steel Corporation. U.S. Steel became the world’s first billion-dollar corporation.
What was the name of Andrew Carnegie's steel company?

His company was called Carnegie Steel Company. It was based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
How much did J.P. Morgan pay for Carnegie Steel?

J.P. Morgan paid $303,450,000 for the company. This made Carnegie the richest man in the world at that time.
What did Andrew Carnegie do after selling his company?

He devoted the rest of his life to philanthropy. He gave away $350 million to various causes, including libraries, universities, and peace initiatives.
Which university did Andrew Carnegie found?

He founded Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. It was originally named Carnegie Technical Schools and later expanded into a major research university.
What is the Carnegie Corporation?

The Carnegie Corporation of New York is a philanthropic foundation founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1911. It focuses on education, peace, and scientific research.
Did Andrew Carnegie serve in any political office?

No, Andrew Carnegie did not hold any political office. However, he was a political influencer and wrote essays on wealth and society.
Where is Andrew Carnegie buried?

He is buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Tarrytown, New York. His grave site is marked by a simple stone cross.
What was Andrew Carnegie's net worth?

At his peak, he was worth about $309 billion in today’s dollars. He gave away $350 million, which was nearly 90% of his fortune.
Did Andrew Carnegie have any grandchildren?

The source does not list grandchildren. His only child was Margaret Carnegie Miller, who had children, but details are not in the source.

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Emma has 8 years of editorial experience and a very clear idea of what a good biography looks like. At Famousy, she runs the editorial operation and decides what meets the bar and what doesn't. She's the kind of editor who remembers the profiles she pushed back on more clearly than the ones she approved. That's not a complaint. That's exactly why the site reads the way it does.

Published on March 28, 2026

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