Gasoline, to be used as a driving force for motors. One of which would become more lucrative then ever before.
Secondly, soon after Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb, scientists discovered other uses for oil. Although at the time, that was seen as a real threat, Rockefeller was lucky in several ways.įirst of all because soon oil fields were found everywhere, in the US & worldwide.
Initially the main product extracted from oil or petroleum was lamp oil or kerosene to light up people’s houses.Ī lucrative business until, of course, the Northern oil fields would yield no more. That is to say, he bought himself into the refining business. Note: Rockefeller was born in Upstate New York, but as a young guy moved to Ohio, neighbouring state of Pennsylvania.Note: The first commercial oil field was found in 1858 by Edwin Drake in Titusville, Pennsylvania.For a short while in foodstuffs, but soon in something completely new after large quantities of oil were found in the Northeastern state of Pennsylvania. And very rich! The Oil businessĪfter a few years as a bookkeeper he became a businessman. The fascination for statistics combined by his religiously fed frugality made him special. Money in the first place, but also by the way to cut costs of every business operation, working hours, transport volumes & distances, salaries, bonuses, et cetera. Rockefeller Sr by Ron Chernow.Īlthough not a bright student, from the get go young Rockefeller was mainly fascinated by the numbers. How hard is it to write a fascinating book about a, in many ways, boring and arch-conservative businessman? Not that hard, judging by the biography on John D. Men that were “personal” stepping stones for the US to become an economic power in the world. Rockefeller was one of those man – together with other businessmen of his time like Andrew Carnegie, Cornelius van der Bilt and a little later Henry Ford – who changed history. For more insights in my overall reading preferences, go to My Books page on Goodreads.That’s why this biography is shelved under the segment Book Reviews on the History of the USA. had an impact worldwide, his life clearly belongs to US History. Chernow, Ron, Titan – The life of John D Rockefeller Sr., 2004 (originally published in 1998), Vintage Books/Penguin Random House, NY.
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