In the late 19th century several prominent American industrialists of the gilded age, sometimes called "Robber barons

Robber baron (industrialist)

Robber baron is a pejorative term used for a powerful 19th century American businessman. By the 1890s the term was used to attack any businessman who used questionable practices to become wealthy...

", among them J. P. Morgan

J. P. Morgan

John Pierpont Morgan was an American financier, banker and art collector who dominated corporate finance and industrial consolidation during his time. In 1892 Morgan arranged the merger of Edison General Electric and Thomson-Houston Electric Company to form General Electric...

, George Maccullogh Miller

George Macculloch Miller

George Macculloch Miller , was a lawyer and secretary of Cathedral of St. John the Divine.. Miller and J. Pierpont Morgan were directors of the New-York, New-Haven and Hartford Railroad.-Charitable Work:...

, Morris K. Jesup, Cornelius Vanderbilt

Cornelius Vanderbilt

Cornelius Vanderbilt , also known by the sobriquet Commodore, was an American entrepreneur who built his wealth in shipping and railroads. He was also the patriarch of the Vanderbilt family and one of the richest Americans in history...

formed a charity organization that was originally referred to the Hospital Saturday and Sunday Association. Within several years it had expanded to include all of New York City and was beginning to spread out to the rest of continental USA.. Today this organization is referred to as the United Hospital Fund.