Inspirational Quotes by George W. Merck (American Businessman)

George W. Merck (1894–1957,) fully George Wilhelm Herman Emanuel Merck, was the president of the pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. 1925–50 and a member of the Merck family founded in Germany in 1668.

Born in New York City, Merck graduated from Harvard College with a B.S. in chemistry in 1915. He also edited The Harvard Lampoon. He then joined his father at the family’s E. Merck and Company, which had become publicly owned in 1919. He became president of the company in 1925.

Merck was pivotal in developing Merck & Company as a pharmaceutical research powerhouse. He created the firm’s first research division in 1933. He oversaw Merck’s involvement in developing synthetic vitamins, sulfas, antibiotics, and hormones. He led the War Research Service during World War II, which initiated the U.S. biological weapons program at Fort Detrick. Merck also orchestrated the 1953 merger with Sharp and Dohme. At the time of his death, Merck’s asset base grew from $4 million to $92 million, with annual sales of $100 million.

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