William Colgate

William Colgate ( born January 15, 1783 in Hollingbourn, Kent, † March 25, 1857 in New York City ) was an England -born, American entrepreneur. He founded in 1806 the Colgate & Company and established perfumed soap.

Life

Colgate was the son of Robert Colgate (1758-1826) and Sarah Bowles († 1840). The father was a farmer and a sympathizer of the American War of Independence and the French Revolution. He left because of his beliefs, the farm in Shoreham, Kent in March 1798 and emigrated with his family to Baltimore. There he managed a farm in Harford County, Maryland.

William Colgate worked as a candle maker in New York City. In 1806 he started his own business with the production and sale of candles, soap and laundry starch. After years of financial difficulties the company succeeded in the 1820s, the breakthrough.

Colgate was a Baptist deacon and united in 1808 the Baptist churches in New York City. He was soon regarded as one of the leading Christians in the city. Colgate was a board member of the American Bible Society, they left because of religious differences, some years later, but again, to call the American And Foreign Bible Society to life.

1850 Colgate founded with twelve other men along the lines of 13 dollars, 13 Prayers, and 13 Articles, the Baptist Education Society of the State of New York, which was renamed in his honor later in Colgate University.

Samuel Colgate (1822-1898), one of his sons, succeeded him as president of Colgate & Company. Colgate's grandson Gilbert Colgate won the 1936 bronze medal in bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics.