Andrew Carnegie and His Parents Andrew Carnegie Poverty was a fact of life for many families in the 1800s, including Andrew Carnegie's.
All kids learn from their parents.
And, as a child, Andrew Carnegie learned values from both of his parents. But their values were very different and often in conflict. From his father, Andrew learned the value of helping those who are less fortunate. Carnegie's father, Will Carnegie, was part of a British working class movement in Scotland, which believed in making conditions better for the working man. He died at the age of 51 when Andrew was 20 years old and the only breadwinner for the family.