John Thompson Dorrance | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1873-11-11)November 11, 1873 Bristol, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | September 21, 1930(1930-09-21) (aged 56) |
| Resting place | West Laurel Hill Cemetery,Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Education | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS) Göttingen University (PhD) |
| Occupation(s) | Chemist, businessman President & owner,Campbell Soup Company |
| Spouse | Ethel Mallinckrodt |
| Children | 5 |
| Relatives | John Dorrance III (grandson) Mary Alice Dorrance Malone (granddaughter) George W. Strawbridge Jr. (grandson) Dorrance Hill Hamilton (granddaughter) |
John Thompson Dorrance (November 11, 1873 – September 21, 1930) was an Americanchemist and businessman who developedcondensed soup. He served as president of theCampbell Soup Company from 1914 to 1930.
Dorrance was born November 11, 1873, inBristol, Pennsylvania. He attended the Rugby Academy in Philadelphia and received a Bachelor of Science degree from theMassachusetts Institute of Technology in 1895. He received a Ph.D. degree from theUniversity of Göttingen in Germany in 1897.[1] He worked in several restaurants in Paris, learned about soup flavorings, and had the idea to prepare and package soup in condensed form.[2]
He declined offers to teach chemistry atBryn Mawr College,Columbia University,Cornell University, and University of Göttingen, and chose a job as a chemist[2] with the Joseph Campbell Preserve Company that his uncle owned. He implemented his idea to pack soup in a condensed form. This process kept the flavor of the soup but reduced the weight and bulk of water and therefore saved on container sizes and shipping costs.[3][4]
In 1899, he produced the first batch of condensed soup. In 1900, he became a director and vice-president, and in 1914 became president and general manager. The company became the Campbell's Soup Company.[2]
In 1917, he was nominated by PresidentHerbert Hoover for a position in theUnited States Food Administration.[3]
He was a member of theAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science, theAmerican Chemical Society, the FrenchLegion of Honour, and theHistorical Society of Pennsylvania. He was a director in several other businesses including theNational Bank of Commerce in New York,[2] theNational State Bank in Camden, New Jersey,[3] thePennsylvania Railroad, thePort Reading Railroad, thePrudential Life and Insurance Company of America, and theWest Jersey and Seashore Railroad.[2]
In 1906, he married Ethel Mallinckrodt[5] and together they had five children.[2]
Dorrance died on September 21, 1930, ofheart disease at his home inCinnaminson Township, New Jersey.[2] He was interred inWest Laurel Hill Cemetery inBala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.[6] His estate inRadnor Township, Pennsylvania is now the home ofCabrini University.[citation needed]
Following Dorrance's death, there was significant litigation over his domicile for purposes of estate and inheritance tax. TheSupreme Court of Pennsylvania held that he was domiciled inPennsylvania, and theSupreme Court of New Jersey held that he was domiciled inNew Jersey, and his estate was required to payestate tax to both states. The estate sought relief in theUnited States Supreme Court, but the request for review was denied.[7]
In 2012, Dorrance was elected into theNew Jersey Hall of Fame.[8]
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