John D. Rockefeller was the founder of the Standard Oil Company in 1870 which made him into the wealthiest person in modern history. Rockefeller revolutionized the petroleum industry and, along with Andrew Carnegie, helped define modern philanthropy.
Random Reminiscences of Men and Events, published in 1909, is an excellent book on some of the things that helped make Rockefeller into one of the most important pioneers in American history. Rockefeller also devotes a couple chapters of this book on his philosophy on philanthropy.
