Western Culture Global Presents

The Top 100 Heroes of Western Culture
These individuals have most contributed to replacing ignorance with knowledge, savagery with civilization, disease with health, tyranny with liberty, poverty with abundance, and despair with happiness.



#67: John D. Rockefeller (1839-1907)

American John D. Rockefeller (1839-1907) founded the Standard Oil Company.

Standard Oil created the modern petroleum industry, an industry upon which most of the industrialized world depends. Rockefeller's total commitment to efficiency (which included acquiring most of his competitors) and innovative production methods allowed Standard Oil to reduce the price of oil and kerosene dramatically.

Since oil was used in some respect to produce many goods, cheaper oil meant less expensive products. This allowed people to buy more goods and to, therefore, vastly improve their standard of living. In addition, cheaper kerosene liberated people's way of life in that they could afford to burn more of it, giving them light after sunset so they extend their day.

With so many people the world over having benefited from Rockefeller's accomplishments, he deserves to be considered one of history's great humanitarians.



Go to #68: Vesalius


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