Andrew Mellon was an American banker, industrialist, philanthropist, and Secretary of the Treasury. Born the son of banker and judge Thomas Mellon, Andrew started his first business - a lumber business by the time he was 17! At the age of 27, Thomas Mellon transferred ownership of his banking firm, T Mellon & Sons to Andrew. In 1889, Andrew helped organize the Union Trust Company and Union Savings Bank of Pittsburgh.

Meanwhile, Mellon amassed a fortune from oil, steel, construction, and shipbuilding activities he invested in. In 1921, president Warren G. Harding appointed Mellon as the Secretary of the Treasury. By this time, Mellon was one of the wealthiest people in the world, and well qualified to run the nation's finances. Mellon first aimed to reform the nation's tax system. Mellon believed taxes should be lowered to decrease the general cost-of-living. He also thought jobs would be created if large companies got tax breaks. During his tenure as Secretary of the Treasury Mellon suceeded in reducing public debt and cutting taxes significantly. In 1932, Mellon served as ambassador to the United Kingdom for one year. In 1933, Mellon retired to private life. He gave large sums of money to cultural, educational, and research causes. In 1937, Mellon donated his art collection and $10 million dollars to build the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.