when did rockefeller form oil trust
Standard Oil Trust. The Standard Oil Trust was formed in 1863 by John D. Rockefeller. He built up the company through 1868 to become the largest oil refinery firm in the world. In 1870, the company was renamed Standard Oil Company, after which Rockefeller decided to buy up all the other competition and form them into one large company. The company faced legal issues in 1890 following passage of the Sherman Antitrust Act.