Role at Abbott Laboratories
A practicing physician and Chicago entrepreneur who founded Abbott Alkaloidal Company in 1888 to produce precise, reliable active alkaloid pharmaceutical granules.
Abbott Laboratories
Global HealthcareFounded 1888- HQ today: Abbott Park, Illinois, USA
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: October 2026
Founders
Who Founded Abbott Laboratories?
Dr. Wallace C. Abbott · Founded 1888 · HQ today: Abbott Park, Illinois, USA
Who founded Abbott Laboratories?
Abbott Laboratories was founded by Dr. Wallace C. Abbott in 1888 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is now led by Robert B. Ford.
- Founders
- Dr. Wallace C. Abbott
- Founded
- 1888
- Headquarters
- Abbott Park, Illinois, USA
- Number of founders
- 1
- Current CEO
- Robert B. Ford
- Where was Abbott Laboratories founded?
- Abbott Laboratories was founded in Chicago, Illinois, USA in 1888. abbott.com
- When was Abbott Laboratories founded?
- Abbott Laboratories was founded in 1888.
- Who started Abbott Laboratories?
- Abbott Laboratories was founded by Dr. Wallace C. Abbott.
- How old is Abbott Laboratories?
- Abbott Laboratories is 138 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
Founded in 1888 by practicing physician Dr. Wallace C. Abbott with $900 in capital, the company began in the back of a Chicago drug store formulating improved active alkaloid granules.
Abbott Laboratories: CEO & Leadership History
Full timeline →Robert B. Ford
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Miles D. White
Executive Chairman (Former CEO)
Robert E. Funck, Jr.
Executive Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Michael J. Dale
Executive Vice President, Diabetes Care
Daniel G. Watters
Executive Vice President, Nutritional Products
Keep researching Abbott Laboratories
Who Founded Abbott Laboratories? FAQ
Who was Dr. Wallace C. Abbott and when did he found the company?
Dr. Wallace C. Abbott was a practicing physician and surgeon in Chicago who founded the Abbott Alkaloidal Company in 1888 to manufacture precise, reliable active alkaloid pharmaceutical granules.
What inspired Dr. Abbott to start manufacturing pharmaceutical granules?
Dissatisfied with the inconsistent potency and variable quality of standard plant tinctures available in the 19th century, Dr. Abbott sought to provide fellow physicians with reliable, accurately dosed active medicinal ingredients.
How did Abbott grow from its initial Chicago storefront?
Through word-of-mouth endorsement from practicing physicians who appreciated the superior efficacy of his granules, Dr. Abbott's enterprise expanded rapidly across North America and eventually into international markets.
What is Dr. Wallace C. Abbott's lasting legacy in global healthcare?
Dr. Abbott's legacy endures in Abbott Laboratories' unwavering commitment to scientific rigor, quality manufacturing, and life-changing health innovations that touch billions of lives today.
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