Friedrich Engelhorn facts for kids
Friedrich Engelhorn (born July 17, 1821 – died March 11, 1902) was an important German businessman. He is best known for starting the huge chemical company BASF in Ludwigshafen am Rhein.
Contents
Early Life and Business
Friedrich Engelhorn was born in Mannheim, Germany, on July 17, 1821. His father owned a brewery and a pub. When he was nine, Friedrich went to grammar school. However, he left after four years to become a goldsmith.
After his training, he traveled to many cities like Mainz, Frankfurt, and Paris. In 1847, he opened his own goldsmith shop in his hometown.
His business faced problems after the 1848 revolution. So, Engelhorn started a private gasworks in Mannheim. He made and sold bottled gas. This gas was used to light up pubs and workshops. Three years later, he took over the public gasworks. He then began lighting the city's streets with gas.
Founding BASF
When gas was made from coal, a lot of tar was left over. In 1856, a scientist named William Perkin found out something amazing. He discovered that tar could be used to make colorful dyes. These dyes were made from a substance called aniline.
Engelhorn quickly saw a great chance for his business. He started a small factory to make aniline and dyes. This factory was close to his gasworks in Mannheim. In 1861, he began making a red dye called fuchsin.
Four years later, Engelhorn wanted to do even more in the chemical industry. On April 6, 1865, he and some partners started a new company. They called it "Badische Anilin- & Soda-Fabrik," or BASF for short.
Finding a place for the new company was tricky. They first wanted to buy land in Mannheim. But the city council said no. They did not want to sell land for the new factory. The very next day, Engelhorn, who was now the commercial director, went to nearby Ludwigshafen am Rhein. There, he successfully bought the land for BASF.
Growing a Global Company
The new company was a huge success. It quickly became a very important chemical business. Just two years after it started, BASF already had over 300 workers.
It didn't take long for BASF to become a global company. In 1873, they opened a sales office in New York, USA. Three years later, they opened a production site near Moscow, Russia. In 1878, they took over a French factory in Neuville-sur-Saône.
Discovering New Dyes
From the very beginning, BASF focused on chemical research. In 1868, Friedrich Engelhorn hired a chemist named Heinrich Caro. Caro became the first head of BASF's laboratory.
Working with Professor Carl Graebe and Carl Liebermann from Berlin University, they made a big discovery. They found the first synthetic dye called alizarin. This was a groundbreaking discovery. In 1869, they patented this new dye in Prussia, France, and England.
Later Life and Legacy
After some disagreements with his partners, Engelhorn left his managing role at BASF in 1884. He moved to the supervisory board. A year later, he left the company completely.
In 1883, he had already bought a medical company. It was called Boehringer und Söhne in Mannheim. His oldest son became the head of this factory that same year.
Engelhorn also served on the boards of other companies. One example was the Deutsche Zelluloidfabrik (German Celluloidfactory).
Friedrich Engelhorn passed away in Mannheim on March 11, 1902. He was a Christian.
In 1957, a new, tall building was built for BASF's commercial department. This building is 101 meters high. It is a famous landmark at the Ludwigshafen site. It was named the Friedrich Engelhorn Building in his honor.
Images for kids
-
Friedrich Engelhorn around 1900
-
The BASF plant in Ludwigshafen in 1866
-
The Friedrich Engelhorn Building
