In 1842, Thomas Beecham launched the Beecham Pills laxative business in England. For a while he worked as the village postman in Kidlington but in 1842, Thomas Beecham launched the Beecham Pills laxative business in England. Beecham’s Pills claimed to cure ‘bilious and nervous disorders.’
As time drew on, they gained a reputation for being a "cure all" for ailments such as stomach pain, headache, dizziness, and more. It was continuously produced from 1842 until 1998.
The success enabled him to open a shop in Wigan in 1847. He created a network of agents throughout Lancashire and Yorkshire and Beecham opened its first factory in 1849 in St Helens, Lancashire.
In 1859, Beecham opened the first factory built solely to manufacture drugs. Beecham in 1890 spent over £100,000 on all forms of publicity. By early twentieth century production is at one million pills per day.
By the late 1920s, the company was a major diversified pharmaceutical manufacturer, and by the 1940s, a major hub of pharmaceutical research.
Having acquired brands such as Macleans and Lucozade, Beechams then merges with SmithKline and formed SmithKline Beecham Plc.
The 1989 merger of Beecham and SmithKline Beckman lead to the creation of a transcontinental pharmaceutical and healthcare firm, SmithKline Beecham Plc.
In 2000 - SmithKline Beecham merges with Glaxo Wellcome.
Beecham pharmaceutical company
