Founder Profile
Henry Wellcome
Last reviewed: October 2026 · By Swet Parvadiya
Who is Henry Wellcome?
Henry Wellcome is a founder of GSK plc, which was founded in 1715 with Silvanus Bevan, Joseph Nathan, John K. Smith and Mahlon Kline.
- Company founded
- GSK plc
- Founded
- 1715
- Co-founders
- Silvanus Bevan, Joseph Nathan, John K. Smith and Mahlon Kline
Background
US-trained pharmacist and entrepreneur; co-founder of Burroughs Wellcome & Co.
Founding Story
Henry Wellcome was a US-born pharmacist who co-founded Burroughs Wellcome & Co. with Silas Burroughs in London in 1880. The company popularised compressed tablets under the 'Tabloid' trademark and later funded major research laboratories. After Wellcome's death in 1936 his shares passed to the Wellcome Trust. Burroughs Wellcome scientists developed AZT for HIV, and Glaxo acquired Wellcome in 1995. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).
Sources
This profile does not yet cite a source specific to Henry Wellcome. The sources below document the company company rather than the person, so check them against the claims above.
- GSK 2025 Annual Report (GSK plc)
- GSK 2025 Annual Report PDF (GSK plc)