GGGilded Greats

John D. Rockefeller

Key figure

John D. Rockefeller

1839–1937

Born 1839
Died 1937 · age 98

Industrialist

The central organizer of Standard Oil and a defining figure in American industrial history.

Across the archive

Stories featuring John D. Rockefeller

Historical article

The Two Henrys in Florida

Henry Flagler and Henry Plant were both trying to develop Florida at the same time.

Historical article

Robber Baron – Yes or No?

Did the Gilded Age have robber barons? Certainly, much like the current era.

Historical article

Stephen V. Harkness – Standard Oil Venture Capitalist

Stephen Vanderburgh Harkness (1818-1888) was an Ohio-based American businessman. He played a crucial role in the establishment of Standard Oil, serving as a “Venture Capitalist” alongside John D.

Historical article

Ponce de León Hotel – Henry Flagler

The Ponce de Leon Hotel, also known as The Ponce, was an exclusive luxury hotel in St. Augustine, Florida.

Historical article

Railcars #90 and #91 – Henry Flagler’s “Jets”

As one might expect since he was building railroads, Henry Flagler had his own private railcars.

Historical article

John D. Rockefeller & The Standard Oil Partners: Flagler and Harkness

When we think of the massive wealth and industrial power of the Gilded Age, John D.

Historical article

Florence Harkness Severance

Florence Harkness Severance, the only daughter of Stephen V. Harkness and his second wife, Anna M.

Historical article

Start Here: Scandal, Success, Oil and Steam: The Incredible Story of Henry Flagler and the Harkness Family

The Harkness and Flagler families help form Standard Oil. Hold onto your hats, folks, because we’re about to take a thrilling ride through the history books!

Historical article

William Lamon Harkness

Detailed Life Events Born August 8, 1858, in Bellevue, Ohio Died May 10, 1919 (aged 60) New Hyde Park, New York Resting place Woodlawn Cemetery Education Yale University (Class of 1881) Spouse Edith Hale Children Louise Hale Harkness (1898-1978), William Hale Harkness (1900–1954) Parent(s) Daniel M.

Historical article

Edward S. Harkness gives away the family fortune

Detailed Life Events Born January 22, 1874 in Cleveland, Ohio Died January 29, 1940 (aged 66) Resting place Woodlawn Cemetery Bronx, New York Education St.

Historical article

Eolia Mansion – Edward Harkness

Edward and Mary Harkness had a number of homes in addition to Harkness House in New York.

Historical article

Lamon V. Harkness

Life and connections

1839
John D. Rockefeller born
1862
Henry Morrison Flagler (32) returned to Bellevue, Ohio after the salt business failed
In 1862, the salt business failed; Henry Morrison Flagler (32) first returned to Bellevue and then moved to Cleveland, where he shared office space with John D. Rockefeller (23).
From the story: Start Here: Scandal, Success, Oil and Steam: The Incredible Story of Henry Flagler and the Harkness Family
1863
The Enrollment Act of 1863 provided for substitutes; Henry M. Flagler (33) used the option
The story states that after Daniel M. Harkness served, the Enrollment Act of 1863 allowed a draftee to pay a substitute enrollee $300; Henry M. Flagler (33) and John D. Rockefeller (24) took this option while helping the war effort.
From the story: Daniel M. Harkness
1866
Henry M. Flagler (36) moved to Cleveland in 1866
Flagler then moved to Cleveland in 1866, thinking he would have better opportunities in a larger city; he had an office in the same building as John D. Rockefeller (27).
From the story: Daniel M. Harkness
1 February 1866
Rockfeller unsuccessfully tries to recruit John Gardiner
Rockefeller, looking for both talent and investment funds tries to recruiet John Gardiner a banker and railway president from Norwalk, OH. ( He was for many years president of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway and helped build the line, which afterward became a part of Commodore Vanderbilt's system)
1867
John D. Rockefeller (28) approached Henry Morrison Flagler (37) and made him a partner in Rockefeller, Andrews & Flagler
In 1867, John D. Rockefeller (28) needed capital for his new oil business and approached Henry Morrison Flagler (37), who was made a partner in the newly formed Rockefeller, Andrews & Flagler partnership.
From the story: Start Here: Scandal, Success, Oil and Steam: The Incredible Story of Henry Flagler and the Harkness Family
1867
John D. Rockefeller (28), Daniel M. Harkness, Henry M. Flagler (37), and Stephen V. Harkness (49) unite firms to form Rockefeller, Andrews & Flagler
The article states that in the year 1867 the firms of William Rockefeller & Co., Rockefeller & Andrews, Rockefeller & Co., and S. V. Harkness and H. M. Flagler united in forming the firm of Rockefeller, Andrews & Flagler.
From the story: John D. Rockefeller & The Standard Oil Partners: Flagler and Harkness
1870
The Rockefeller, Andrews & Flagler partnership grew into the Standard Oil Corporation
The article states that the partnership grew into the Standard Oil Corporation in 1870, with articles of incorporation signed by John D. Rockefeller (31), Henry Morrison Flagler (40), Sam Andrews, Stephen V. Harkness (52), and William Rockefeller.
From the story: Start Here: Scandal, Success, Oil and Steam: The Incredible Story of Henry Flagler and the Harkness Family
1884
Rescued and renamed Spelman College
John D. Rockefeller (45) rescued the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary and renamed it Spelman College for his wife Laura Spelman and her abolitionist family.
From the story: Robber Baron – Yes or No?
1886
Funded Rockefeller Hall at Spelman
John D. Rockefeller (47) financed Spelman’s Rockefeller Hall.
From the story: Robber Baron – Yes or No?
1890
Financing of the Cleveland Arcade by John D. Rockefeller (51), Marcus Hanna, Charles F. Brush, and Louis Severance
The Cleveland Arcade was financed by prominent Cleveland businessmen, including John D. Rockefeller (51), Marcus Hanna, Charles F. Brush, and Louis Severance (among others).
From the story: The Cleveland Arcade built by Harkness
20 June 1890
Sherman Anti Trust Act Passed
The Sherman Antitrust Act (Sherman Act,[1] July 2, 1890, ch. 647, 26 Stat. 209, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1–7) is a landmark federal statute on competition law passed by Congress in 1890. It prohibits certain business activities that reduce competition in the marketplace, and requires the United States federal government to investigate and pursue trusts, companies, and organizations suspected of being in violation. It was the first Federal statute to limit cartels and monopolies, and today still forms the basis for most antitrust litigation by the United States federal government. However, for the most part, politicians were unwilling to refer to the law until Theodore Roosevelt's presidency (1901–1909). The Sherman Antitrust Act was named after its author, Senator John Sherman, an Ohio Republican, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, who was also Rockefeller's colleague.[2] After being ratified in the Senate on April 8, 1890 by a vote of 51-1, the Sherman Act passed unanimously (242-0) in the House of Representatives on June 20, 1890, and was then signed into law by President Benjamin Harrison on July 2, 1890. Despite its name the Act has fairly little to do with trusts in the ordinary sense of the term. Around the world, what U.S. lawmakers and attorneys call antitrust is more commonly known as competition law. The purpose of the Act was, to quote Sherman: To protect the consumers by preventing arrangements designed, or which tend, to advance the cost of goods to the consumer.
1937
John D. Rockefeller (98) died