John Thompson Dorrance facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Thompson Dorrance
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| Born | November 11, 1873 |
| Died | September 21, 1930 (aged 56) |
| Resting place | West Laurel Hill Cemetery Bala Cynwyd, Pa., US |
| Education | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS) Göttingen University (PhD) |
| Occupation | Chemist, businessman President & owner: Campbell Soup Company |
| Spouse(s) | Ethel Mallinckrodt |
| Children | Elinore (1907–1976) Ethel (1909–1953) Charlotte (1911–1977) Margaret (1915–1953) John Jr. (1919–1989) |
| Parent(s) | John and Elvira (née Thompson) Dorrance |
| Relatives | John Dorrance III (grandson) Mary Alice Dorrance Malone (granddaughter) |
John Thompson Dorrance (born November 11, 1873 – died September 21, 1930) was an American chemist. He found a way to make condensed soup, which is soup with most of the water removed. He was also the president of the Campbell Soup Company for many years.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Dorrance was born in Bristol, Pennsylvania. He loved learning and went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). There, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He was also part of a group called Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
After MIT, he traveled to Germany to study more. He earned a special degree called a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Göttingen. Even though he was offered jobs to teach at big universities like Cornell University and Columbia University, he chose to work with his uncle instead.
Building the Campbell Soup Company
In 1897, John Dorrance started working at the Joseph Campbell Preserve Company. His uncle was the general manager there. This is where John Dorrance made his big discovery: he invented condensed soup! This meant soup could be made smaller and easier to ship and store.
John Dorrance became the president of the Campbell Soup Company in 1914. He led the company until 1930. Over time, he even bought out the Campbell family's share of the business. He helped turn Campbell's into one of America's most famous and long-lasting food brands. After he passed away, his brother, Arthur Dorrance, took over as president.
Family Life
In 1906, John Dorrance married Ethel Mallinckrodt. They had five children together.
His Passing
John Dorrance died on September 21, 1930, because of heart disease. He passed away at his home in Cinnaminson Township, New Jersey. He was buried in the West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. His large home in Radnor Township, Pennsylvania later became Cabrini University.
Lasting Impact
In 2012, John Dorrance was honored for his achievements. He was chosen to be part of the New Jersey Hall of Fame. This shows how important his work was to the food industry and to New Jersey.
See also
