1937 89 years ago Notable Deaths May 23 3 sources

John D. Rockefeller, American businessman and philanthropist, founded the Standard Oil Company and Rockefeller University (born 1839)

On May 23, in the year 1937, John D. Rockefeller, American businessman and philanthropist, founded the Standard Oil Company and Rockefeller University (born 1839). This event is recorded as a Notable Deaths event in the history of May 23, one of 392 recorded events on this date across all of history.

1 notable person is associated with this event, including John D. Rockefeller. Learn more below.

John Davison Rockefeller Sr. was an American businessman and philanthropist. He was one of the wealthiest Americans of all time and one of the richest people in modern history. Rockefeller was born into a large family in Upstate New York who moved several times before eventually settling in Cleveland, Ohio. He became an assistant bookkeeper at age 16 and went into several business partnerships beginning at age 20, concentrating his business on oil refining. Rockefeller founded the Standard Oil Company in 1870. He ran it until 1897 and remained its largest shareholder. In his retirement, he focused his energy and wealth on philanthropy, especially regarding education, medicine, higher education, and modernizing the Southern United States.

Key Facts

  • This event took place on May 23, 1937 (AD era).
  • It is categorised as a Notable Deaths event in recorded history.
  • Referenced in 3 Wikipedia articles.
  • 1 notable person is recorded as involved in or associated with this event.
  • Wikipedia source last updated on 18 May 2026.

On This Date in History 392

Type Year Date Event
Notable Deaths 2024 May 23 Caleb Carr, American military historian and author (born 1955)
Notable Deaths 2024 May 23 Morgan Spurlock, American filmmaker (born 1970)
Historical Events 2022 May 23 Anthony Albanese of the Australian Labor Party is sworn in as the 31st Prime Minister of Australia after winning the 202
Historical Events 2021 May 23 A cable car falls from a mountain near Lake Maggiore in northern Italy, killing 14 people
Historical Events 2021 May 23 Ryanair Flight 4978 is forced to land by Belarusian authorities to detain dissident journalist Roman Protasevich
Notable Deaths 2021 May 23 Ron Hill, English long-distance runner (born 1938)
Notable Deaths 2021 May 23 Eric Carle, American children's book designer, illustrator, and writer best known for The Very Hungry Caterpillar (born
Notable Deaths 2020 May 23 Hana Kimura, Japanese professional wrestler (born 1997)
Historical Events 2017 May 23 Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declares martial law in Mindanao, following the Maute's attack in Marawi
Notable Deaths 2017 May 23 Roger Moore, English actor (born 1927)
Historical Events 2016 May 23 Two suicide bombings, conducted by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, kill at least 45 potential army recruits in Aden
Historical Events 2016 May 23 Eight bombings are carried out by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in Jableh and Tartus, coastline cities in Syria
Historical Events 2015 May 23 At least 30 people are killed as a result of floods and tornadoes in Texas, Oklahoma, and northern Mexico
Notable Deaths 2015 May 23 Anne Meara, American actress, comedian and playwright (born 1929)
Notable Deaths 2015 May 23 Aleksey Mozgovoy, Pro-Russian Ukrainian separatist leader (born 1975)
Notable Deaths 2015 May 23 Alicia Nash, Salvadoran-American physicist and engineer (born 1933)
Notable Deaths 2015 May 23 John Forbes Nash Jr
Historical Events 2014 May 23 Seven people, including the perpetrator, are killed and another 14 injured in a killing spree near the campus of Univers
Notable Deaths 2014 May 23 Mikhail Egorovich Alekseev, Russian linguist and academic (born 1949)
Notable Deaths 2014 May 23 Madhav Mantri, Indian cricketer (born 1921)
Historical Events 2013 May 23 A freeway bridge carrying Interstate 5 over the Skagit River collapses in Mount Vernon, Washington
Notable Deaths 2013 May 23 Epy Guerrero, Dominican baseball player, coach, and scout (born 1942)
Notable Deaths 2013 May 23 Hayri Kozakçıoğlu, Turkish police officer and politician, 15th Governor of Istanbul Province (born 1938)
Notable Deaths 2013 May 23 Georges Moustaki, Egyptian-French singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1934)
Notable Deaths 2013 May 23 Flynn Robinson, American basketball player (born 1941)
Notable Deaths 2012 May 23 Paul Fussell, American historian, author, and academic (born 1924)
Notable Deaths 2011 May 23 Xavier Tondo, Spanish cyclist (born 1978)
Notable Deaths 2010 May 23 José Lima, Dominican-American baseball player (born 1972)
Notable Deaths 2010 May 23 Simon Monjack, English director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1970)
Notable Deaths 2009 May 23 Roh Moo-hyun, South Korean soldier and politician, 9th President of South Korea (born 1946)
Historical Events 2008 May 23 The International Court of Justice (ICJ) awards Middle Rocks to Malaysia and Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh) to Singapor
Notable Deaths 2008 May 23 Iñaki Ochoa de Olza, Spanish mountaineer (born 1967)
Notable Deaths 2008 May 23 Utah Phillips, American singer-songwriter and poet (born 1935)
Selected Events 2008 May 23 The International Court of Justice awarded the Middle Rocks to Malaysia and Pedra Branca to Singapore, resolving a 29-ye
Notable Births 2007 May 23 Rayane Messi, French footballer
Historical Events 2006 May 23 Alaskan stratovolcano Mount Cleveland erupts
Notable Deaths 2006 May 23 Lloyd Bentsen, American colonel and politician, 69th United States Secretary of the Treasury (born 1921)
Notable Deaths 2006 May 23 Kazimierz Górski, Polish footballer and manager (born 1921)
Notable Births 2005 May 23 Alexandra Eala, Filipino tennis player
Historical Events 2002 May 23 The "55 parties" clause of the Kyoto Protocol is reached after its ratification by Iceland
Notable Deaths 2002 May 23 Big Bill Neidjie, Australian activist and last speaker of the Gaagudju language (born c
Notable Deaths 2002 May 23 Sam Snead, American golfer and journalist (born 1912)
Notable Births 2001 May 23 Brennan Johnson, Welsh footballer
Notable Births 2000 May 23 Felipe Drugovich, Brazilian-Italian racing driver
Notable Births 2000 May 23 Israel Reyes, Mexican footballer
Notable Births 1999 May 23 James Charles, American internet personality
Notable Births 1999 May 23 Trinidad Cardona, American singer and songwriter
Notable Births 1999 May 23 Sandro Mamukelashvili, Georgian-American basketball player
Notable Deaths 1999 May 23 Owen Hart, Canadian-American wrestler (born 1965)
Selected Events 1999 May 23 Professional wrestler Owen Hart died immediately before a World Wrestling Federation match after dropping 70 feet (21 m)

This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

People Involved

John D. Rockefeller

American business magnate (1839–1937)

death

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