Edward Robinson Squibb founds his Brooklyn pharmacy
- When
- 1858–1859
- Where
- Brooklyn, New York; Squibb's laboratory facility
- Episodes
- 3
Edward Robinson Squibb, a former U.S. Army assistant surgeon, founded his pharmaceutical laboratory in Brooklyn in 1858. The nascent company faced immediate disaster when its brick laboratory burned down on Christmas Eve 1858. Despite this setback, medical professionals supported Squibb's reopening in 1859, establishing the foundation for E. R. Squibb & Sons.
Episodes
- Founding of Squibb Pharmacy
Edward Robinson Squibb founded his pharmaceutical laboratory in Brooklyn in 1858 after resigning from his assistant surgeon post.
- Laboratory Fire
The nascent company almost closed when its brick laboratory burned down on Christmas Eve 1858.
- Reopening with Support
Doctors and surgeons helped Squibb reopen his laboratory in 1859 by subscribing $2,100.
Background and detail
Background. Edward Robinson Squibb was a medical doctor and leading American inventor who founded E. R. Squibb & Sons. Born in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1819, he resigned from his assistant surgeon post in the U.S. military in 1858 to start his own pharmaceutics manufacturing business in Brooklyn, New York.
Early Operations. The company began operating in a small brick laboratory in Brooklyn. However, the nascent company almost closed upon its opening as the facility burned down on Christmas Eve of 1858. This incident highlighted the volatility of early pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Recovery. Following the destruction of the laboratory, a group of doctors and surgeons helped Squibb reopen in 1859 by subscribing $2,100. This support allowed the business to continue, eventually becoming part of the modern pharmaceutical giant Bristol-Myers Squibb.
People involved
- Edward Robinson Squibb · Founder
- Doctors and Surgeons · Supporters
Sources
- E. R. Squibb Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-14
- Bristol Myers Squibb Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-25
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.