John D. Rockefeller
1839 – 1937

John D. Rockefeller

American industrialist and philanthropist (1839–1937)

philanthropistbankeraccountantentrepreneur
Born
1839-07-08, Richford
Died
1937-05-23
Birthplace state
New York

Biography

John Davison Rockefeller Sr. was an American businessman and philanthropist. He was one of the wealthiest Americans of all time and one of the richest people in modern history. Rockefeller was born into a large family in Upstate New York who moved several times before eventually settling in Cleveland, Ohio. He became an assistant bookkeeper at age 16 and went into several business partnerships beginning at age 20, concentrating his business on oil refining. Rockefeller founded the Standard Oil Company in 1870. He ran it until 1897 and remained its largest shareholder. In his retirement, he focused his energy and wealth on philanthropy, especially regarding education, medicine, higher education, and modernizing the Southern United States.

Occupation

John D. Rockefeller is recorded as a philanthropist, a banker, a accountant and a entrepreneur, born in New York (1839–1937).

Connections to New York

John D. Rockefeller was born in Richford, New York in 1839. Explore other notable figures from New York, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from New YorkNew Yorkhistory ›Historic sites in New York
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Richford

John D. Rockefeller came from Richford. A full Aubrey report on Richford pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Richford report
Or see a real report first

More notable figures from New York

Other historical figures born in New York, ranked by historical prominence.

Donald Trump
Donald Trump
American businessman and politician (born 1946), President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
president of the United States from 1933 to 1945 (1882–1945)
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
26th President of the United States from 1901 to 1909 (1858–1919)
Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick
American filmmaker (1928–1999)
Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman
American poet, essayist and journalist (1819–1892)
Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt
American diplomat and activist, First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945 (1884–1962)
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
president of the United States from 1837 to 1841

Frequently asked about John D. Rockefeller

Who was John D. Rockefeller?
John D. Rockefeller was American industrialist and philanthropist (1839–1937), born in New York (1839 – 1937).
When and where was John D. Rockefeller born?
John D. Rockefeller was born on 1839-07-08 in Richford.
When did John D. Rockefeller die?
John died on 1937-05-23.
What was John D. Rockefeller known for?
John D. Rockefeller is recorded as a philanthropist, a banker, a accountant and a entrepreneur.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report