Below are photos of key figures in the Second Industrial Revolution. Scroll down to read short biographies about each of them.
Thomas AlvaEdison was born 2/11/1847 in Milan, OH. He was the inventor of the light bulb. He discovered, by the use of a platinum filament, the solution to the challenge scientists had been facing for over 50 years. Thomas Edison was also the inventor of many other brilliant innovations. He has invented the telegraph, phonograph, and also invented electric power distribution. Electric power distribution was the final step in electric power delivery. It allows power to be distributed to individual consumers from the transmission system. He died of diabetes in 10/18/1931.
JohnD.Rockefeller was born7/8/1839 in Richford, NY. He was the founder of the Standard Oil Company. He became one of the world's wealthiest men and donated over $500 million to good causes. Because of his great success he became a target of muckrakers. They viewed him as a man who built his wealth at the expense of other men, the emblem of corporate greed. In 1911, the supreme court ruled that Standard oil was in violation of anti-trust laws, and was shut down. It was dispersed into 30 separate companies. He donated well over half a billion dollars to education, scientific, and religious causes. He died of Arteriosclerosis in 5/23/1937.
Andrew Carnegie was born 11/25/1835 in Dunfermline,Scotland. He is one of the best known steel tycoons to ever live. He made his start working a sequence of railroad jobs, and in 1889 he owned Carnegie Steel. Andrew Carnegie essentially revolutionized the steel industry with his start to finish method of production. For every step of production Carnegie had exactly what he needed. Andrew Carnegie helped to shape the world into what it is today. In 1901, Carnegie sold his company and dedicated his life to philanthropy. He donated over $5 million to the New York public library, 2,800 libraries were opened with his help, and he also founded Carnegie Mellon university, all because of his love of learning. He died of Bronchopneumonia in 7/11/1919.