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 Like countless other hand weavers, Andrew Carnegie's father lost his livelihood with the introduction of the mechanical loom. With no alternative
but to emigrate, in May 1848 when Andrew was twelve years old, the impoverished family boarded a sailing ship in Glasgow bound for the United
States, settling in Allegheny near Pittsburgh. After working as a spool boy in a cotton factory and telegraph office delivery boy, Andrew's quick brain and
cheerful willingness earned him the post of secretary to Thomas A.Scott, controller of the Pennsylvania Railway in Pittsburgh, who recognised the boy's exceptional
acumen and pioneering spirit. At 24 Carnegie was put in charge of the Pittsburgh rail department; most of his money was made by successful investment in other companies. By
1865 the astute railway official had become a wealthy steel magnate, with business interests ranging from the manufacture of rolling stock and rails to bridge building, iron ore, coal
mining, and oil. As a self made man with a talent for management he recognised the importance of good accountancy. He had the knack of meeting the right people at the right
time, almost all of whom became loyal colleagues and friends exercising a decisive influence on his life. At the age of 33 he was already the uncrowned king of American steel industry
and one of the countries richest men. But Carnegie was also by this time set on a philanthropic course, determined his wealth should further cultural progress and advance the public good. In 1901 he disposed of his
business interests for $480 million and set about what he later described as the far more difficult task of giving away his money. Apart from establishing pension funds for factory
workers and their families, he made a special point of supporting universities and other educational establishments. He made literally thousands of charitable endowments, funding
such famous institutions as the Carnegie Hall in New York, the Carnegie Mellin University in Pittsburgh, the Carnegie Institute in Washington and the Carnegie Foundation for
International Peace, not to mention more than 2800 libraries worldwide. Throughout his life Carnegie remained deeply attached to his native Scotland who reaped its
fare share of his generosity - his birthplace Dunfermline alone received $1 million, worth about $25 million today, for various social and cultural projects. In 1898 Carnegie acquired
Skibo Castle in North Scotland as a summer residence, intending to spend the last years of his life there with his wife Louise who was equally devoted to the country. But at the end of
the First Word war he returned to the United States where he died in Lenox, Massachusetts in 1919. By then he had give away more than $350 million in endowments, these were kept
up by his wife and most are still in existence today. In December 2000, the famous singer Madonna, married Guy Ritchie, in the old church of Skibo and then held the reception and stayed at Skibo Castle, which seems to be the unique place to stay these days for people that are famous. So Carnegie has provided a wonderful place for the rich and famous. Andrew Carnegie 1835 - 1919
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