William Procter (1801-1884) - Find a Grave Memorial

Businessman. He was the co-founder of the Procter and Gamble Company, which became an American multinational consumer goods corporation headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. A native of England, he was born in Herefordshire and educated at the Luckston School. Procter entered into business in 1818 and was connected with the clothing industry in London in the late 1820's. In 1827, he became acquainted with William Hooper, who urged him to emigrate to the United States after Procter's woolens shop was destroyed by fire and a burglary, leaving him in thousands of dollars of debt. Procter arrived in the United States in 1830 and began to manufacture candles in New York City. He moved west with his first wife, Martha Peat Procter, who died of cholera during their westward journey in Cincinnati, Ohio. Originally planning to stay for a short time before resuming his relocation plans, he decided to stay in Cincinnati and spent the remainder of his life there. After working for a time in a bank, he learned the money-making side of a business. At that point, he took advantage of the fat and oil by-products from Cincinnati's large meatpacking industry to make candles. In 1833 he then married Olivia Norris, the daughter of a candle maker. He was convinced by his father-in-law, Alexander Norris, to enter into a partnership with his Irish brother-in-law, James Gamble, who was a soap maker. Procter and Gamble had married sisters. They established the Procter and Gamble Company in 1837. By 1859, sales reached $1 million. In 1879, the company began to manufacture Ivory soap and profits grew to enormous proportions. After his death, his son, William A. Procter, succeeded him as the company's president, producing even more new products in the company's laboratory and increasing sales from $20 million to over $200 million.

Bio by: K Guy