Johann Benckiser

Johann Adam Benckiser

Johann Adam Benckiser (30 December 1782 – 7 May 1851) was a German chemist who founded Joh. A. Benckiser GmbH, a major German chemicals business. Since 1999, the business has been part of Reckitt, a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

Career

In 1823, Benckiser founded a business in Pforzheim, Germany, specialising in industrial chemicals and consumer goods.[1] He initially made ammonia, hydrochloric acid and ammonium chloride.[2] Karl Ludwig Reimann, a chemist, joined the business in 1828 and married Benckiser's daughter.[3] Benckiser died in May 1851.[4] After that, the company was owned and enlarged by the Reimann family. In the 1980s, it became a substantial company under the guidance of manager Peter Harf.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Reckitt Benckiser's largest shareholder to slash stake". The Guardian. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  2. ^ Thain, Greg (2014). FMCG: The Power of Fast-Moving Consumer Goods. First Edition Design. p. 379. ISBN 978-1622-876-48-8.
  3. ^ a b "Germany's intensely private and immensely wealthy Reimann family". FT.com. 11 March 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  4. ^ Stumm, Petra (2012). Leopold Gmelin (1788 - 1853): Leben und Werk eines Heidelberger Chemikers. Centaurus Verlag & Media. p. 604. ISBN 978-3-86226-179-6.