Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) was a Scottish-born American industrialist who led the expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century. Starting as a bobbin boy in a cotton factory, Carnegie worked his way up to become one of the wealthiest men in America. He founded the Carnegie Steel Company, which he sold to J.P. Morgan in 1901 for $480 million, making it the U.S. Steel Corporation. Carnegie was also a prominent philanthropist, donating over $350 million to various causes, including the establishment of Carnegie Mellon University and numerous public libraries.