Andrew William Mellon - Industrialist, Family and Life
Andrew William Mellon's Personal Details
Andrew Mellon was an American industrialist and philanthropist
Information | Detail |
---|---|
Birthday | March 24, 1855 |
Died on | August 27, 1937 |
Nationality | American |
Famous | Philanthropists, Business People, Oil Barons, Steel, Industrialist |
Spouses | Nora Mary McMullen |
Siblings | Richard B. Mellon |
Known as | Andrew W. Mellon |
Childrens | Ailsa, Paul |
Universities |
|
Birth Place | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Religion | Episcopalian |
Gender | Male |
Father | Thomas Mellon, |
Mother | Sarah Jane Negley Mellon |
Net Worth | $50.5 billion |
Sun Sign | Aries |
Born in | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Famous as | Industrialist, Philanthropist |
Died at Age | 82 |
// Famous Industrialist
Andrey Melnichenko
Andrey Melnichenko is a Russian industrialist and philanthropist. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about his life.
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a famous businessman and philanthropist and one of the richest men in the history of the world. This biography profiles his childhood, life, career, achievements, philanthropy and timeline.
Peter Cooper
Peter Cooper was an American industrialist and inventor who built the first steam locomotive in the U.S. This biography of Peter Cooper provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline
Andrew William Mellon's photo
Who is Andrew William Mellon?
Andrew Mellon was an American industrialist and philanthropist who also served as the United States Secretary of the Treasury from 1921 to 1932. As an astute businessman he is credited to have provided financial backing to industries in different fields such as oil, shipbuilding, construction, aluminum and steel, etc. He started displaying signs of his greatness at an early age and seemed to possess an acute business sense even as a young boy. Born into a wealthy family with a successful man as a father, he was provided ample opportunities to pursue good education and enter the profession of his choice. He chose to work with his father in his business ventures after college and astounded the senior man with his business acumen as he led the company from one success to another. He expanded the business by investing in several growth oriented industries and secured large interests in companies in the oil, automotive, steel, coal, hydroelectric, and insurance sector. He financed industrialists like Charles Martin Hall and Heinrich Koppers and amassed great fortunes. In fact, he was counted amongst the wealthiest people in the US in the 1920s. Politics was another one of his passions alongside business. He was a very generous man known for his huge contributions to causes like art and science.
// Famous Business People
Kristina Sunshine Jung
Kristina Sunshine Jung is an American entrepreneur and actor, better known as the daughter of drug-smuggler George Jung and his ex-wife, Mirtha Jung.
Ted Turner
Ted Turner is a media tycoon who founded the cable news network CNN. This biography of Ted Turner provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Guccio Gucci
Guccio Gucci was a famous fashion designer from Florence, Italy, and the founder of the world-renowned fashion brand ‘Gucci.’ Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family, personal life, career, etc.
Childhood & Early Life
He was born on 24 March 1855 to Thomas Alexander Mellon and his wife Sarah Jane Negley. His father was a successful banker and lawyer in Pittsburgh. He was the fourth among his parents’ five sons.
From an early age he displayed signs of his financial abilities which would one day make him a great industrialist.
He enrolled at the Western University of Pennsylvania (now the University of Pittsburgh) but did not stay to complete his studies; he left before his graduation to start a business with his brother, Richard.
Career
His father helped him and his brother Richard to start a lumber and coal business in 1872 after he left college. The brothers worked hard and make their venture a profitable one, impressing their father very much.
After a few years the brothers joined their father’s banking firm, T. Mellon & Sons in 1880. Again Andrew displayed great business skills and soon had the ownership of the bank transferred to him.
In 1889, he helped to establish the Union Trust Company and the Union Savings Bank of Pittsburgh, which was formed as a subsidiary firm. His businesses in the financial sector were flourishing, encouraging him to branch out into other sectors as well.
He started investing in upcoming sectors like oil, steel, aluminum, shipbuilding and construction. He acquired large holdings in the American Locomotive Company, the Gulf Oil Company, and the Pittsburgh Coal Company.
He financed the industrialist Charles Martin Hall’s refinery, the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) which went on to become the world’s third largest producer of aluminum.
He helped the German engineer Heinrich Koppers in setting up an entire industry by helping him in founding H. Koppers Company in 1912. Koppers, who had invented the coke ovens, sold his patents to Mellon.
He became very successful as a financier and was counted among the wealthiest people in America by the 1920s. He was the third highest income-tax payer in the mid-1920s behind only John Rockefeller and Henry Ford.
In 1921 Mellon was appointed the Secretary of the Treasury by the President Warren G. Harding. He served in this position for almost 11 years, till 1932. His service which started during the Harding administration continued through the Coolidge and Hoover administrations as well.
When he had newly taken up the post, the President Harding called for a thorough revision of the tax system and creation of a federal budget system. Mellon’s experience as a banker helped him in implementing these programs successfully.
He played a key role in drafting of the Mellon-Berenger Agreement in 1926 which was created to set the amount of French debts to the United States arising from loans during the World War I. Even though his work was much appreciated by the government, his popularity declined after the Great Depression and he resigned in 1932.
Awards & Achievements
He featured on the cover of Time Magazine twice - in July 1923 and May 1928.
Personal Life & Legacy
He remained a bachelor for a long while, focusing all his attention on building his fortunes. He decided to get married quite late in life, at the age of 45. In 1900 he married a 20 year old English woman, Nora Mary McMullen. The couple had two children. His young wife however developed relationships with other men which led to a bitter divorce in 1912. He did not remarry.
Throughout his life he remained an active philanthropist. Along with his brother he had established a memorial for his father, the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research as a department of the University of Pittsburgh, which is today a part of Carnegie Mellon University. He donated generously to support art and research causes.
He was a prominent collector of arts and he donated a collection valued at $25 million to the U.S. government in 1937. He also donated $15 million to build the National gallery of Art to house the collection.
He died on 26 August 1937 at the age of 82.
// Famous Steel
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a famous businessman and philanthropist and one of the richest men in the history of the world. This biography profiles his childhood, life, career, achievements, philanthropy and timeline.
J. R. D. Tata
J.R.D.Tata was an Indian businessman and aviator who founded TCS, Tata Motors and Air India. This biography of J.R.D.Tata provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Jamsetji Tata
Jamsetji Tata was an Indian entrepreneur who founded the Tata Group. This biography of Jamsetji Tata provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Andrew William Mellon biography timelines
- // 24th Mar 1855He was born on 24 March 1855 to Thomas Alexander Mellon and his wife Sarah Jane Negley. His father was a successful banker and lawyer in Pittsburgh. He was the fourth among his parents’ five sons.
- // 1872His father helped him and his brother Richard to start a lumber and coal business in 1872 after he left college. The brothers worked hard and make their venture a profitable one, impressing their father very much.
- // 1880After a few years the brothers joined their father’s banking firm, T. Mellon & Sons in 1880. Again Andrew displayed great business skills and soon had the ownership of the bank transferred to him.
- // 1889In 1889, he helped to establish the Union Trust Company and the Union Savings Bank of Pittsburgh, which was formed as a subsidiary firm. His businesses in the financial sector were flourishing, encouraging him to branch out into other sectors as well.
- // 1900 To 1912He remained a bachelor for a long while, focusing all his attention on building his fortunes. He decided to get married quite late in life, at the age of 45. In 1900 he married a 20 year old English woman, Nora Mary McMullen. The couple had two children. His young wife however developed relationships with other men which led to a bitter divorce in 1912. He did not remarry.
- // 1912He helped the German engineer Heinrich Koppers in setting up an entire industry by helping him in founding H. Koppers Company in 1912. Koppers, who had invented the coke ovens, sold his patents to Mellon.
- // 1921 To 1932In 1921 Mellon was appointed the Secretary of the Treasury by the President Warren G. Harding. He served in this position for almost 11 years, till 1932. His service which started during the Harding administration continued through the Coolidge and Hoover administrations as well.
- // 26th Aug 1937He died on 26 August 1937 at the age of 82.
// Famous Philanthropists
Kevin Costner
Kevin Costner is an American actor, director and singer who is best known for his portrayal of rugged individuals with complex emotions. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline
Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks is singer-songwriter rated among the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time by Rolling Stone Magazine. This biography of Stevie Nicks provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Princess Ameerah Al-Taweel
Princess Ameerah Al-Taweel is a Saudi Arabian princess widely recognized for her philanthropy and activism. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family, life history and achievements.
Shakira
Shakira is a highly popular award winning Columbian pop singer and dancer. This biography of Shakira provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Serj Tankian
Serj Tankian is a famous American singer-songwriter and member of the band, ‘System of a Down’. This biography profiles his childhood, music career, life, achievements and timeline.
Sophia Bush
Sophia Bush is an American actress who found fame with the television series ‘One Tree Hill’. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.
Andrew William Mellon's FAQ
What is Andrew William Mellon birthday?
Andrew William Mellon was born at 1855-03-24
When was Andrew William Mellon died?
Andrew William Mellon was died at 1937-08-27
Where was Andrew William Mellon died?
Andrew William Mellon was died in Southampton, New York, U.S.
Which age was Andrew William Mellon died?
Andrew William Mellon was died at age 82
Where is Andrew William Mellon's birth place?
Andrew William Mellon was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
What is Andrew William Mellon nationalities?
Andrew William Mellon's nationalities is American
Who is Andrew William Mellon spouses?
Andrew William Mellon's spouses is Nora Mary McMullen
Who is Andrew William Mellon siblings?
Andrew William Mellon's siblings is Richard B. Mellon
Who is Andrew William Mellon childrens?
Andrew William Mellon's childrens is Ailsa, Paul
What was Andrew William Mellon universities?
Andrew William Mellon studied at University of Pittsburgh
What is Andrew William Mellon's religion?
Andrew William Mellon's religion is Episcopalian
Who is Andrew William Mellon's father?
Andrew William Mellon's father is Thomas Mellon,
Who is Andrew William Mellon's mother?
Andrew William Mellon's mother is Sarah Jane Negley Mellon
What is Andrew William Mellon's sun sign?
Andrew William Mellon is Aries
How famous is Andrew William Mellon?
Andrew William Mellon is famouse as Industrialist, Philanthropist