John Davison Rockefeller Sr., born on July 8, 1839, in Richford, New York, emerged from modest beginnings to become a pivotal figure in American industry and philanthropy. His father, William Avery Rockefeller, was a traveling salesman, while his mother, Eliza Davison Rockefeller, instilled in him the values of discipline and charity. From a young age, Rockefeller exhibited a keen business sense, engaging in small ventures such as raising turkeys and selling candy. In 1853, the Rockefeller family relocated to the Cleveland, Ohio area, where John attended high school and briefly studied bookkeeping at a commercial college. 

At 16, Rockefeller began working as an office clerk at a Cleveland commission firm dealing in commodities like grain and coal. By 1859, he and a partner had established their own commission firm. That same year marked the drilling of America's first oil well in Titusville, Pennsylvania. Recognizing the burgeoning opportunities in the oil sector, Rockefeller and several partners invested in a Cleveland refinery in 1863.

In 1870, Rockefeller co-founded the Standard Oil Company of Ohio with his brother William, Henry Flagler, and others. Serving as its president and largest shareholder, he implemented strategies that led Standard Oil to control approximately 90% of U.S. refineries and pipelines by the early 1880s. These strategies included acquiring rival refineries and establishing companies for distributing and marketing products globally. In 1882, these entities were consolidated into the Standard Oil Trust, centralizing operations and profits. 

Standard Oil's dominance attracted criticism, with allegations of unethical practices such as predatory pricing and collusion with railroads to eliminate competitors. In 1911, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Standard Oil violated antitrust laws and ordered its dissolution into over 30 individual companies. 

Beyond his business pursuits, Rockefeller was a devout Baptist and a dedicated philanthropist. He donated more than half a billion dollars to various causes, funding the establishment of institutions like the University of Chicago and the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research (now Rockefeller University). In 1913, he founded the Rockefeller Foundation to promote global well-being. 

Rockefeller married Laura Celestia "Cettie" Spelman in 1864, and they had five children. He retired from active business in the mid-1890s, focusing on his philanthropic endeavors. He passed away on May 23, 1937, at the age of 97, in Ormond Beach, Florida.