George Washington Hill facts for kids
George Washington Hill was a very important business leader. He was born in Philadelphia on October 22, 1884, and passed away on September 13, 1946, in Matapédia, Quebec, Canada. He became the President of the American Tobacco Company, following in his father's footsteps. He was known for his clever advertising ideas. He even hired a public relations expert named Edward Bernays. Together, they helped change how people viewed women smoking in public. His campaigns were very successful.
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George Washington Hill's Early Career
George Washington Hill went to Williams College for a while. He left in 1904 before finishing his degree. His father was a top leader at the American Tobacco Company. So, George also started working there.
Growing Popular Brands
The company bought the Pall Mall cigarettes brand. George was put in charge of selling them. Under his leadership, Pall Mall cigarettes became very popular. They were the most liked among a certain type of tobacco.
In 1911, the company faced a big legal case. Because of this, it was split into four different companies. George's father became the president of the new American Tobacco Company. George was made a sales manager.
Launching Lucky Strike
Five years later, the company launched a new brand called Lucky Strike. George was put in charge of this new brand. He designed most of its advertising and marketing plans himself.
Leading the American Tobacco Company
In 1925, George Hill's father passed away. George then became the new president of the company.
Lucky Strike's Big Success
Just one year later, Lucky Strike was doing incredibly well. It made up one-fifth of all cigarette sales in the United States. It was among the top five best-selling cigarettes in the country.
In 1927, George Hill tried something new. He started directing his advertising efforts toward women. This was a first for the industry.
Smart Advertising Campaigns
He hired two very talented people for his campaigns. One was Albert Lasker from the Lord & Thomas agency. The other was Edward Bernays, a public relations expert. They used famous movie actors and singers to promote Lucky Strike. This made the advertising campaign a huge success.
Soon, Lucky Strike accounted for 38 percent of all U.S. cigarette sales. Even during the Great Depression, the company stayed successful. George Hill earned a very high salary during this time.
Sponsoring Popular Shows
He invested a lot of money in advertising. He sponsored popular radio shows like Your Hit Parade and the Jack Benny Show. He also supported famous performers. These included Frank Sinatra, Ethel Smith, and Lawrence Tibbett.
Later Life and Passing
George Washington Hill passed away in 1946. He was 61 years old. He died in Quebec, Canada. He is buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New York.
