Andrew Carnegie, known as the King of Steel, built the steel industry in the United States and became one of the wealthiest men in America. His success stemmed from his sales ability and his strategy of expanding during economic decline, while competitors cut investments.
Carnegie believed in hard work but also felt the wealthy should use their fortunes for society's benefit. He opposed charity, preferring to provide educational opportunities. "He who dies rich, dies disgraced," he said.
His noteworthy contributions bear his name: the Carnegie Institute of Pittsburgh (with a library, fine arts museum, and history museum), a school of technology now part of Carnegie-Mellon University, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Carnegie Institute of Washington to fund research, and Carnegie Hall.
Few Americans were untouched by Carnegie's generosity. He contributed over five million dollars to establish 2,500 libraries in small communities, forming the nucleus of today's public library system.