Frederick John Walcott Derham

Frederick John Walcott Derham (21 July 1900 – 12 May 1953) was an Australian entrepreneurial businessman who founded what would become known as Nylex in 1927.

John Derham grew up in Melbourne, where he studied at Melbourne Church of England Grammar School. However, during World War II, Derham was forced to manufacture army crash helmets and jungle telephone wires for the war effort. During the war, the company began to brand itself Nylex from 1941, which began the transition to ultimately change its name by 1966.

Derham died in 1953 after a series of heart attacks which were caused by his unhealthy drinking and smoking habits.