Friedrich Jacob Merck

Friedrich Jacob Merck (18 February 1621—1678) was a German pharmacist and a member of the Merck family. He was the founder of the world's oldest pharmaceutical company, now known as the Merck Group, which was established in 1668.

Biography Friedrich Jacob Merck was the son of Johann Merck (1573–1642), an innkeeper from Schweinfurt who ran the Zum Schwarzen Bären inn and who was a member of the city council. He did an apprenticeship in the Ratsapotheke in his hometown. He first owned a pharmacy in Wesselburen, before moving to Darmstadt. In 1668 he acquired the second city pharmacy there, the Engel-Apotheke, which became the start of the Merck company.

Friedrich Jacob Merck died in 1678 without any descendants. He had chosen his nephew (1647–1715) as his successor.

Brothers and sisters Friedrich Jacob Merck had many siblings from his father's three marriages:

Johann Jacob Merck (1599–1599) Anna Dorothea Merck (1600–1633) Johann Hartmann Merck (1602–1672) Anna Cordula Merck (1606–1611) Anna Margaretha Merck (1611–1611) Georg Merck (1611–1683) – pharmacist and father of pharmacist Georg Friedrich Merck. Johann Christoph Merck (1614–1679) Anna Rosina Merck (1616–1616) Anna Maria Merck (1618–1681), in 1641 got married Johann Georg Biegmann (1613–1671). Johannes Merck (1623–1684) Amalia Elisabetha Merck (1628–1666), in 1649 got married Michael Engelhardt (1607–1675).