Founder Profile
John K. Smith
Last reviewed: October 2026 · By Swet Parvadiya
Who is John K. Smith?
John K. Smith is a founder of GSK plc, which was founded in 1715 with Silvanus Bevan, Joseph Nathan, Mahlon Kline and Henry Wellcome.
- Company founded
- GSK plc
- Founded
- 1715
- Co-founders
- Silvanus Bevan, Joseph Nathan, Mahlon Kline and Henry Wellcome
Background
Philadelphia pharmacist who opened a drugstore in 1830.
Founding Story
John K. Smith opened a drugstore in Philadelphia in 1830. Mahlon Kline joined the business as a bookkeeper in 1865, it became Smith, Kline & Co. in 1875, and Smith, Kline & French after acquiring French, Richards & Co. in 1891. SmithKline merged with Beecham in 1989 to form SmithKline Beecham, which combined with Glaxo Wellcome in 2000. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).
Sources
This profile does not yet cite a source specific to John K. Smith. 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)