Andrew Carnegie :: essays research papers

Andrew Carnegie, a very factual and interesting biography, which was written by Alvin F. Harlow, was published in 1953 by Kingston House, Chicago and it contains 178 pages. Mr. Harlow wrote this book because of his love for history and his love of writing and his interest in the history of transportation and communication in America. This led him to write a series of books on biographies for young people. Like all his writings, he makes them factual and filed with humor and satire. Therefore perhaps he wrote these biographies to get young people interested in the great people of America history. As remarked that â€Å"In whatever manner Harlow writes-the dignified, objective attitude necessary to encyclopedias, the factual with touches of humor and satire which make his historical works interesting†¦these are his style and he â€Å"lets the story tell itself†. Andrew Carnegie, who was an extremely astute businessman, founder of a great steel empire, and a very generous philanthropist, was born in Dumferline, Scotland on November 25, 1835. His father William Carnegie was a weaver in his cottage. His mother Mary Morrison was a housewife. Because of the growth of textile mills, William Carnegie found it very difficult to earn money, so he decided at this time his family would emigrate to the U.S., settling in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Andrew Carnegie was forced to work at the age of 13 because his father was earning a small income. Carnegie had no formal education; however, he gained most of his education by observing and experiencing almost everything around him. For instance, Carnegie learned how to use the telegraph by playing around with it when nobody was near. He became so good at working the telegraph, he actually was able to decode the messages by ear. At the sight of this, Thomas A. Scott, his boss promoted him to a clerk and telegraph operator. Later Mr. Scott promoted him to Vice President of the Western Division because of his zeal, honesty, loyalty, and conscientiousness. The promotion was the result of these qualities and Carnegie bringing Mr. Scott’s attention to the sleeping car, a very profitable investment for Pennsylvania Railroad. He began to invest in property where there might be oil with some of the citizens in Homewood, the city to which he had moved. It was very profitable; one deal results in a $40,000 purchase price turning into $3,000,000 two years later.