John Davison Rockefeller John Davison Rockefeller is part of the family of American Industrialists, bankers, and philanthropists. Corporate development during the Industrial Revolution was made in part by entrepreneurs who were the people who took responsibility for the organization and operation of a new business venture. Rockefeller was born in 1839 and died in 1937. He established an oil refinery with partners in 1863, and in 1970 he organized the Standard Oil Co. of Ohio. By strict economy, mergers with competitors, and ruthless elimination of opponents he soon dominated the U.S. oil-refining industry. His numerous companies were consolidated under the Standard Oil Co