Becton Dickinson
Company History
Becton Dickinson History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1897 in New York, New York, United States
When was Becton Dickinson founded?
Becton Dickinson was founded in 1897 in New York, New York, United States by Maxwell W. Becton and Fairleigh S. Dickinson, making it 129 years old.
- Founded
- 1897
- Founding place
- New York, New York, United States
- Founders
- Maxwell W. Becton and Fairleigh S. Dickinson
- Headquarters today
- Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, United States
- Milestones documented
- 14 (1897–2026)
- Current CEO
- Tom Polen
- Acquisitions
- 4
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1897 | Company Foundation |
| 1906 | Incorporation & Manufacturing |
| 1924 | Luer-Lok Innovation |
| 1949 | Vacutainer Blood Collection |
| 1960 | NYSE Public Listing |
| 1975 | Global Diagnostic Expansion |
| 1986 | Automated Flow Cytometry |
| 1995 | Safety-Engineered Devices |
| 2015 | CareFusion Acquisition ($12.2B) |
| 2017 | C.R. Bard Acquisition ($24B) |
| 2022 | Embecta Spin-Off |
| 2024 | Edwards Critical Care Acquisition ($4.2B) |
| 2025 | Smart Connected Ecosystems |
| 2026 | Global Supply Chain Resiliency |
- Where was Becton Dickinson founded?
- Becton Dickinson was founded in New York, New York, United States in 1897. bd.com
- Who founded Becton Dickinson?
- Becton Dickinson was founded by Maxwell W. Becton and Fairleigh S. Dickinson.
- When did Becton Dickinson start?
- Becton Dickinson was founded in 1897.
- How old is Becton Dickinson?
- Becton Dickinson is 129 years old as of 2026.
- How did Becton Dickinson start?
- Founded in 1897 by Maxwell Becton and Fairleigh Dickinson, BD revolutionized clinical medicine with the Luer-Lok syringe (1924) and Vacutainer blood collection tubes (1949).
Founding Story
In 1897, traveling salesman Maxwell W. Becton and inventor Fairleigh S. Dickinson partnered in New York City with modest capital to distribute clinical thermometers and hypodermic syringes to physicians, laying the foundation for modern medical standardization.
Founders
Maxwell W. Becton
Maxwell W. Becton was a visionary commercial traveler and salesman who partnered with Fairleigh S. Dickinson in 1897 to sell thermometers and hypodermic needles to physicians and hospitals across the United States, establishing BD as a foundational medical supply enterprise.
Fairleigh S. Dickinson
Fairleigh S. Dickinson was an enterprising inventor and businessman who recognized the critical need for standardized, high-quality clinical instruments in healthcare, helping build BD into an indispensable global medical technology institution.
Key Milestones
Company Foundation
Maxwell W. Becton and Fairleigh S. Dickinson partner in New York City to form Becton, Dickinson and Company, initially distributing fever thermometers and hypodermic syringes.
Source: investors.bd.comIncorporation & Manufacturing
Becton, Dickinson and Company is officially incorporated in New Jersey and establishes its first dedicated manufacturing and assembly operations.
Source: bd.comLuer-Lok Innovation
BD introduces the groundbreaking Luer-Lok syringe tip, establishing an industry-standard secure connection for hypodermic needles and preventing accidental needle detachment.
Source: bd.comVacutainer Blood Collection
BD invents and launches the revolutionary Vacutainer evacuated blood collection tube system, transforming clinical diagnostics and laboratory blood draws worldwide.
Source: bd.comNYSE Public Listing
BD common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker symbol BDX, providing broad public liquidity and capital for international expansion.
Source: investors.bd.comGlobal Diagnostic Expansion
BD scales its global footprint across Europe and Asia, establishing state-of-the-art manufacturing plants for disposable medical consumables and diagnostic reagents.
Source: bd.comAutomated Flow Cytometry
BD pioneers advanced fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and flow cytometry instrumentation, accelerating immunology and oncology research.
Source: bd.comSafety-Engineered Devices
In response to needlestick injuries and bloodborne pathogen transmission risks, BD introduces an extensive portfolio of safety-engineered needles and retractable syringes.
Source: bd.comCareFusion Acquisition ($12.2B)
BD completes the massive $12.2 billion acquisition of CareFusion, integrating Pyxis automated dispensing systems and Alaris infusion pump technologies.
Source: news.bd.comC.R. Bard Acquisition ($24B)
BD acquires C.R. Bard for $24 billion, dramatically expanding its Interventional segment into vascular, urology, oncology, and surgical specialty products.
Source: news.bd.comEmbecta Spin-Off
BD successfully completes the tax-free spin-off of its diabetes care business into an independent publicly traded company named Embecta Corp.
Source: investors.bd.comEdwards Critical Care Acquisition ($4.2B)
BD completes the strategic $4.2 billion acquisition of Edwards Lifesciences Critical Care product group, boosting advanced hemodynamic monitoring capabilities.
Source: news.bd.comSmart Connected Ecosystems
BD accelerates deployment of AI-enabled smart connected medication management systems, smart infusion pumps, and non-invasive PureWick urine management solutions.
Source: bd.comGlobal Supply Chain Resiliency
BD achieves record consolidated revenue of $19.37 billion, reinforcing its essential hospital consumable monopoly across 190+ countries.
Source: investors.bd.comMajor Acquisitions
CareFusion
2015C.R. Bard
2017Edwards Lifesciences Critical Care
2024Vyaire Medical (Respiratory assets)
2021Keep researching Becton Dickinson
Becton Dickinson Company History FAQ
When was Becton, Dickinson and Company founded and who started it?
Becton, Dickinson and Company was established in 1897 in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, United States. The founders launched the enterprise with a clear mission to innovate within Medical Technology & Consumables, pioneering new operational models and customer-centric financial solutions that transformed traditional marketplace practices.
What were the most important milestones in Becton, Dickinson and Company's history?
Key historical milestones for Becton, Dickinson and Company include its initial foundation in 1897, the rollout of proprietary operational and digital platforms, major institutional capital expansions, strategic corporate acquisitions, and its evolution into a recognized market titan generating $19.37B in annual revenue.
How did Becton, Dickinson and Company survive historic economic downturns?
Becton, Dickinson and Company navigated major economic crises and market volatility by preserving conservative balance sheet reserves, diversifying its core revenue streams across multiple customer segments, and leveraging low-cost operational infrastructure to maintain positive operating margins when competitors struggled.
Where is Becton, Dickinson and Company headquartered today?
Becton, Dickinson and Company maintains its global corporate headquarters in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, United States, directing enterprise strategy, regulatory compliance, technology engineering, and international customer operations from this central location.
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