Historedia
Person

John D. Rockefeller

Events
6
Episodes
13
Years
1870–1899

Every event in Historedia whose sources name John D. Rockefeller, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. John D. Rockefeller incorporates Standard Oil in Cleveland

    1870

    Role: Founder and Incorporator

    1. 1870-01-10 · Cleveland, OhioIncorporation of Standard Oil

      Rockefeller dissolved the partnership of Rockefeller, Andrews & Flagler to incorporate Standard Oil in Cleveland, Ohio, on January 10, 1870.

  2. South Improvement Company formed in Pennsylvania

    1871

    Role: Founder and controlling interest

    1. 1871 · PennsylvaniaSecret Terms Negotiated

      Secret negotiations established rebate structures, shipping reports, and traffic division among railroads, favoring Pennsylvania Railroad.

    2. 1871 · PennsylvaniaControl Kept from Refiners

      Watson as president and Bostwick as allies allowed Rockefeller to maintain control despite share allocations to other cities.

  3. Spelman College is established in Atlanta, Georgia

    1881–1888

    Role: Philanthropist

    1. 11 April 1881 · Friendship Baptist Church basementFounding of Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary

      Sophia B. Packard and Harriet E. Giles established the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary in the basement of Friendship Baptist Church in Atlanta on April 11, 1881.

    2. 1882 · Massachusetts1882 Fundraising Trip to Massachusetts

      In 1882, Packard and Giles returned to Massachusetts to seek funding, connecting with businessman John D. Rockefeller.

    3. 1884 · Spelman SeminaryRenaming to Spelman Seminary

      In 1884, the institution was renamed Spelman Seminary in honor of Laura Spelman Rockefeller and her parents following John D. Rockefeller's visit.

    4. 1888 · Spelman SeminaryPackard Appointed First President

      Sophia B. Packard was appointed as Spelman's first president in 1888 after the charter for the seminary was granted.

  4. Standard Oil Trust secretly created by John D. Rockefeller

    1882

    Role: Founder of Standard Oil Company (Ohio) and Trustee

    1. 1882 · United StatesSecret Conveyance of Shares to Trustees

      Existing stockholders conveyed their shares in trust to nine trustees through a secret agreement, consolidating control over disparate companies.

    2. January 2, 1882 · United StatesSigning of the Standard Oil Trust Agreement

      Forty-one investors signed the Standard Oil Trust Agreement on January 2, 1882, pooling securities from forty companies into a single holding agency managed by nine trustees.

  5. University of Chicago holds its first classes

    1890–1892

    Role: Primary Benefactor

    1. 1890 · University of ChicagoIncorporation and Funding

      The American Baptist Education Society incorporated the new university in 1890 using donations from the society and John D. Rockefeller.

    2. 1891 · University of ChicagoPresidential Appointment

      William Rainey Harper was selected by John D. Rockefeller to organize the university and became its first president in 1891.

    3. 1 October 1892 · University of ChicagoOpening of Classes

      The University of Chicago began its first classes on October 1, 1892, following its incorporation in 1890 and the appointment of its first president.

  6. Standard Oil controls 84% of US oil after merger of small companies

    1899

    Role: Major shareholder of Standard Oil; retired from the Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey in 1896 but remained president and a major shareholder thereafter

    1. 1899 · Standard Oil Trust, based at 26 Broadway in New YorkFormation of Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey

      In 1899, Jersey Standard acquired shares of 19 other companies, becoming the holding company for the trust, based at 26 Broadway in New York.

Sources

  1. John D. Rockefeller Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-13
  2. Standard Oil Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-30
  3. South Improvement Company Wikipedia, revision of 2026-01-26
  4. Spelman College Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-14
  5. University of Chicago Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-06
  6. William Rainey Harper Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-03