Business History Explorer Supported by the Business Archives Council

Johnson & Johnson Ltd

Other Business Names:

  • Johnson & Johnson (Great Britain) Ltd
  • Hughes Brushes Ltd
  • Merson, G F, Ltd
  • Ethicon Ltd.
  • Ortho Pharmaceutical Ltd
  • Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd

Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:

  • Gargrave, North Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, Yorkshire & the Humber, England
  • Slough, Slough, Berkshire, South East, England

Sectors:

  • Wood, straw, etc, products manufacture Brush making
  • Other goods production Healthcare products manufacture inc dressings, hygiene products, sutures, etc
  • Precision instruments production Optical equipment inc eyewear production
  • Chemical production Pharmaceutical production & research

Notes:

Johnson & Johnson traces its origins to 1886 when established in USA as a healthcare business. Developed into a major corporation which was floated in 1944. A UK business established at Slough in 1925 as the company's second overseas subsidiary and early on known as Johnson & Johnson (Great Britain) Ltd. Grew in part by acquisition including Hughes Brushes Ltd, toothbrushes, in 1933. Moved manufacturing plant to Gargrave, Yorkshire, later in 1930s where made, inter alia, catcut products. Acquired 1947 G F Merson Ltd, Edinburgh, manufacturers of suture materials and renamed it Ethicon Ltd. Other early UK interests included the pharmaceutical businesses Ortho Pharmaceutical Ltd, established 1947, and Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd. Continues as a major heathcare product manufacturer. Renamed Johnson & Johnson Ltd in 1968

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