Andrew Carnegie (1835 - 1919)

Andrew Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, Scotland in 1835. At the age of 12 he emigrated to the United States with his parents, and went on to build the Carnegie Steel Company (forerunner of the U.S. Steel Corporation). After selling his steel company in 1901, he became one of the richest Americans in history. Carnegie dedicated the rest of his life to philanthropy and gave away around 90% of his fortune to charities, foundations, universities and helped establish over 2,500 public libraries throughout the United States, Britain, Canada and several other countries. Typically, he provided funding to build and equip a 'Carnegie Library', with the recipient local authority providing the land and a budget for it's ongoing operation and maintenance. By the time Carnegie died in 1919 he had already given away approximately the equivalent of $5.3 billion in 2021 value; further donations were bequeathed in his will.