John K. Smith Explained

John K. Smith (c. 1805–1845) was an American pharmacist and businessman. He founded the pharmaceutical company John K. Smith & Co., which became a part of Smith, Kline and French and GlaxoSmithKline.

Smith trained as a druggist, and joined his brother-in-law, John Gilbert, in 1830 to open a dispensing chemist at 296 North Second Street in Philadelphia.^[1] Together they sold drugs, paints, varnish, chemicals and window glass.^[1]

When John K. Smith retired, the business was taken over by his son, George K. Smith, who expanded it into a large international business.^[1]

John K. Smith died in 1845^[1] and was interred at Laurel Hill Cemetery.^[2]

Notes and References

1. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19980217&id=1lsNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=J28DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5373,5584814 No brotherly love in battle of drug makers' jobs
2. Web site: John K Smith . www.remembermyjourney.com . 27 September 2023.