Founder Profile
Henry M. Ernst
Last reviewed: October 2026 · By Swet Parvadiya
Who is Henry M. Ernst?
Henry M. Ernst is a founder of Marathon Petroleum Corporation, which was founded in 1887.
- Company founded
- Marathon Petroleum Corporation
- Founded
- 1887
Background
Ernst was part of the group of Ohio oil producers active during the Lima-Indiana boom of the late 1880s. Detailed biographical records are limited.
Founding Story
Henry M. Ernst is credited as a founder of The Ohio Oil Company, organized in 1887 by a group of independent producers in the Lima-Indiana oil field of northwestern Ohio. The company was bought by Standard Oil in 1889, regained independence in 1911, and is the corporate ancestor of both Marathon Oil and Marathon Petroleum. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).
Sources
This profile does not yet cite a source specific to Henry M. Ernst. The sources below document the company company rather than the person, so check them against the claims above.
- Marathon Petroleum 2025 Form 10-K (Marathon Petroleum Corporation)
- Marathon Petroleum Q4 and Full-Year 2025 Results (Marathon Petroleum Corporation)