Herbert Henry Dow Founder of Dow Chemical

Biography of Herbert Henry Dow

Early Life

Herbert Henry Dow founder of Dow Chemical was born in Belleville, Ontario, Canada on 26th of February 1866. His father was a mechanical engineer and inventor. In 1878 his family migrated to Cleveland, Ohio, United States because of his father’s job in Derby Shovel Manufacturing Company.

He was a very intelligent child; he used to help his father in problems of machines. Before the age of just 12 years he built incubator of chicken eggs. After some years he with his father made a steam turbine, which was later on used by United States Navy for controlling torpedo.

Study and Interest in Chemical Exploration

He graduated from high school in 1884. After completing his studies at high school he went to Case School of Applied Science, today its name is Case Western Reserve University. He became the member of Phi Kappa Psi group at Case. He worked on specialized research in the areas of Ohio for studying the chemical structure of brines. He uncovered some samples, which were highly rich in bromine, from the areas of Midland, Michigan and Canton, Ohio. At that time those were highly used as key item in the manufacturing of medicines in newly opened industries.

In 1888, after completing his graduation from Case University, he remained as a professor of Chemistry at Huron Street Hospital College, Cleveland. But he continued his research on brines.

Starter in Business

He put his research of bromines into practice and started his business in 1889. He received a patent for the invention of very cost-effective method for bromine extraction. He opened his own company but that company failed within a year. But his acquaintances helped him in forming new company “Midland Chemical Company” in Midland, Michigan in 1890. His determined nature in bromine mining resulted in the invention of the Dow process in 1891. That was a process made by him for the extraction of bromine through electrolysis, converting bromide into bromine by oxidizing.

Founder of Dow Chemical Co.

He was not limiting his self on to just bromine extracting process. He wanted to maximize his research for yielding other chemicals also form electrolysis. But his ideas were not liked by his financial supporters and he was dismissed from Midland Chemical Company.  But he didn’t stop his research on formation of other chemicals like chloride and caustic soda from Sodium Chloride (NaCl). After all he got financial support from his family friends and Case University classmates, James T. Pardee, J. H. Osborn, Albert W. Smith, and Cady Staley.

He moved back to Ohio with his family in 1895. He founded there Dow Process Company for applying his process in production. In successive year he opened another company in Midland as the replacement of Dow Process Company with the name Dow Chemical Company. He purchased Midland Chemical Company within three years.

Dow Chemical Company

It is also known as Dow. It is a multinational company of America in chemical segment of market. It’s headquarter is in Midland, Michigan, United States of America. It manufactures chemicals, agricultural, and plastic products. Most of its transactions belong to B2B; only health care products are sold into B2C market. It is also a member of the American Chemical Council.

Later Years

He opened the Dow Gardens in Midland, Michigan due to his personal interest in 1925. Herbert Henry Dow High School was named after him.

Death

He died on 15^th October, 1930, due to a liver disease. At the time of death, he was owner of more than 90 patents. His wife was his successor.