Andrew Mellon was an American industrialist and philanthropist who also served as the United States Secretary of the Treasury from 1921 to 1932. As an astute businessman he is credited to have provided financial backing to industries in different fields such as oil, shipbuilding, construction, aluminum and steel, etc. He started displaying signs of his greatness at an early age and seemed to possess an acute business sense even as a young boy. Born into a wealthy family with a successful man as a father, he was provided ample opportunities to pursue good education and enter the profession of his choice. He chose to work with his father in his business ventures after college and astounded the senior man with his business acumen as he led the company from one success to another. He expanded the business by investing in several growth oriented industries and secured large interests in companies in the oil, automotive, steel, coal, hydroelectric, and insurance sector. He financed industrialists like Charles Martin Hall and Heinrich Koppers and amassed great fortunes. In fact, he was counted amongst the wealthiest people in the US in the 1920s. Politics was another one of his passions alongside business. He was a very generous man known for his huge contributions to causes like art and science.