John D. Rockefeller

About

John Davison Rockefeller Sr. was an American businessman and philanthropist. He was one of the wealthiest Americans of all time and one of the richest persons in modern history. Rockefeller was born into a large family in Upstate New York who moved several times before eventually settling in Cleveland, Ohio. He became an assistant bookkeeper at age 16 and went into several business partnerships beginning at age 20, concentrating his business on oil refining. Rockefeller founded the Standard Oil Company in 1870. He ran it until 1897 and remained its largest shareholder. In his retirement, he focused his energy and wealth on philanthropy, especially regarding education, medicine, higher education, and modernizing the Southern United States.

Frequently Asked Questions

Name Meaning

A male given name originating from the Bible [in turn from Hebrew]; very popular since the Middle Ages. Used generically for a man whose actual name may not be known.. Etymology: From John, Johan, Johannes, from Jehan, Johan, and also Iohannes, both from Iōhannēs, variant of Iōannēs, from Ἰωάννης, from tr=Yôḥānān, perhaps contracted from a former tr=Yəhōḥānān. Yahya.

The name John is of English origin, meaning "A male given name originating from the Bible [in turn from Hebrew]; very popular since the Middle Ages. Used generically for a man whose actual name may not be known.. Etymology: From John, Johan, Johannes, from Jehan, Johan, and also Iohannes, both from Iōhannēs, variant of Iōannēs, from Ἰωάννης, from tr=Yôḥānān, perhaps contracted from a former tr=Yəhōḥānān. Yahya.". It is traditionally a male name.

Other famous people named John

Names related to John