Museum of American Financial History

John D. Rockefeller Timeline

1839 Born in Richford, New York (July 8)
1853 Moved to Cleveland, Ohio 1855 "Job Day," landed first job as clerk
1859 Established Clark and Rockefeller, a commodities trading company
1863 Built first oil refinery
1870 Founded Standard Oil Company
1885 Company moved from Cleveland to New York City
1909 Published autobiography, Random Reminiscences
1911 Supreme Court ordered break-up of Standard Oil into 39 companies
1937 Died at Ormond Beach, Florida at age 97

Interesting Facts:

Rockefeller tithed 10% of his earnings to church and charity, beginning with his first job as a clerk.
He preferred crackers and water to steak and champagne.
Standard Oil controlled over 90% of U.S. oil production and pricing.
Rockefeller played nine holes of golf each day in his retirement.
In his lifetime, Rockefeller gave away over $500 million to educational, medical, and cultural causes.