Dr. Duffield studied under Justus von Liebig, the father of organic chemistry at the University of Giessen in Germany. He continued to pursue his academic interest even after the founding of the company.
Dr Duffield began making drugs over a drug store at Cass and Henry and the building soon was taken over completely as a factory.
In 1866 he took Hervey C Parke, a businessman, into partnership and the business was styled Duffield, Parke and Co. George S Davis was taken into partnership in 1867. At that time Davis was 22 years old and he joined the company as the firm’s first salesman.
In 1869 Samuel Duffield left the business. He was replaced by Dr A F Jennings, who assumed the role head of manufacturing. Thereafter the firm was renamed Parke, Jennings and Co.
Two years later, Jennings left business. In November 1871, Parke, Davis and Company was born, with Parke as the President and Davis as the general manger.
Parke, Davis and Company was one of the two companies pioneers in the development of hard capsules during the 20th century. Another company was Eli Lilly and Company. They developed the manufacturing process and spread the manufacture of empty capsules outside of the USA.
In 1902, Parke Davis established its own research laboratory. It is one of the earliest in the whole of American industry.
The early history of Parke, Davis and Company
