William Colgate founds soap and candle business in New York

Background. William Colgate was born in Hollingbourne, Kent, England, in 1783. He moved to New York City in 1804, where he worked as an apprentice in a soap-boiler. Two years later, he established his own manufacturing business in the city.

Founding of the Business. In 1806, Colgate established a starch, soap, and candle factory on Dutch Street in Manhattan. The business operated under the name William Colgate & Company. This specific venture is recognized as the origin of what would eventually become the Colgate-Palmolive Company.

Legacy. The manufactory founded by William Colgate in 1806 is the direct predecessor of the Colgate-Palmolive Company. While the company later expanded into a multinational consumer products corporation, its roots remain in this initial New York City business venture.