Current ~~mmsnts’ EUGENE GARFIELD INSTITUTE FOR SCIENTIFIC lNFORMATIONe 3501 MARKET ST PHILADELPHIA PA 19104

The Enduring Legacy of Sir Henry Wellcosne-l%armaceuticd Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, and Collector Extraordbuu”re

Number 3 January 18, 1988

The life of Sir Henry Solomon Wellcome (1853-1936), American-born pharmacist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, is discussed. With partner Silas M. Burroughs, Wefkome cofounded the phar- maceutics firm of Burroughs Wellcome & Co. (later changed to the Wellcome Foundation Ltd.) in in 1880, After his partner’s death, Wellcome led his company to worldwide prominence in the pharmaceutical industry, afso establishing institutions for research in physiology, chemistry, tmpicaf medicine,and other areas. Keenlyinterestedin travel, archaeology,and the historyof medicine, Wellcome amassed a huge collection of medical artifacts, many of which can still be seen at the Wellcome Museum of the Histo~ of Medicine, London. Upon his death, Wellcome’s will estab- lished the WeIlcome Trust, which remains the largest general medkaf research charity in the UK.

Americans are quite familiar with the amassed great wealth by manufacturing a foundations created by such figures as Ford, disinfectant known as Argyrol. He used that Rockefeller, Carnegie, Sloan, and more re- wealth to build a collection of distinguished cently by Hughes and MacArthur. Howev- art, including one of the best collections of er, we tend to be rather provincial about our French Impressionist paintings. knowledge of foreign foundations. Most Another philanthropist who combined countries have several outstanding pbilan- great success in industry with a passion for tbropic organizations that support research. collecting was Sir Henry Wellcome (1853- Not the least of these is the . 1936). An American-born pharmacist and I had shared my compatriots’ ignorance entrepreneur, he built a worldwide pharma- of this organization. And I was partictdarly ceutical organization at the end of the last intrigued to learn quite nxently that the part- century-an organization that continues to ners behind this organization were not only thrive today. born in the US but had in fact begun their Wellcome was keenly interested in ar- careers at our own Philadelphia College of chaeology and in the history of medicine. Pharmacy and Science about a century ago. This interest was manifested in his vast, My fascination culminated itsa visit to the cross-cultural collection of medical literature Wellcome Museum of the History of Med- and artifacts. Although the Wellcome col- icine, which forms an integral part of the lection of instruments and other objects is Science Museum in London. This visit pre- too large and diverse to be exhibited in its ceded a talk delivered to the Biological entirety, a sizable portion is on public dis- Council of the UK, a coordinating organiza- play, providing an exceptionally detailed tion for more than 100 professional biology look at the history of science artd medicine. societies. The venue was the Royaf Ento- His collection of books, rttarmscripta, paint- mological Society in Queen’s Gate—just a ings, prints, and drawings forms the nucleus short walk from the museum. of the Library of the Wellcome Institute for Some years ago we discussed the exten- the History of Medicine. sive and intriguing art coketion of Phila- Wellcome was also highly committed to delphian Albert C. Barnes (1872-1951).1 A using his weafth for the common good. In controversial figure to say the least, Barnes the words of Sir John R. Vane, the 1982

14 Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine, As Turner notes, upon his graduation who was associated with the Wellcorne cmm- Wellcome faced a choice between making pany for 12 years, Wellcome believed in money fast in the rapidly expanding West, “the cardinal importance of scientific or remaining in the East to learn more about research as an aid to human—and animal— business methods. He chose the latter mum he~th. ”2 This belief was reflected in the and took a position with the New York phar- specific instructions in his will. It survives maceutical firm of Caswell Hazard & CO.4 today in the form of the Wellcome Trust, (p. 6) He also joined the American Pharma- a major source of funding for international ceutical Association and became an active scientific and . member, reading several papers at meetings and generally increasing his visibility in the Early Years profession. In 1876 he accepted a position as a salesman with the leading pharmaceu- Heruy Solomon Wellcome was born in tical firm of McKesson& Robbim. This job, rural Wisconsirt on August 21, 1853.3 His promoting the company’s new line of gela- father was a farmer and an Adventist preach- tin-coated pills, allowed him to travel wide- er. When Henry was eight, his family ly. He made a number of trips to remote re- moved by wagon train from Wisconsin to gions of Central and South America, where Garden City, Minnesota. Midwest America he studied the therapeutic properties of me- was still a frontier at that time, and Indians dicinal plants. J posed a constant threat to the encroaching white settlers. Not long after Henry and his Enter Silas M. Burroughs family arrived in Garden City, the neighbor- ing tribes staged an uprising in which thou- In 1879 Wellcome, by then well known sands of settlers and Indians were killed. As in the pharmaceutical industry, received an journalist Helen Turner notes in Henry Well- offer from a fellow alumnus of the Phila- come: 7he Man, His Coh’ea”onand His Leg- delphia College of Pharmacy-Silas M. Bur- acy, the plight of displaced American In- roughs. Burroughs had been sent to London dians inspired great sympathy in young the year before as an agent for the Philadel- Henry, and later in life he became an ac- phia firm of John Wyeth & Brother, and he tive supporter of programs promoting their invited Wellcome to join him in England to welfare.4 (p. 5) He also wrote art account form a partnership. Both men knew that the of an Indian Christian missionary settlement, opportunity was ripe for the introduction of Zhe Story of Met.?dahkz, and donated all “compressed medicine” into the UK. In En- the book’s profits to that community. gland at that time, as Macdonald notes, it was still “the day of the potion, the pestle and the pill, ” and there was a vast poten- ItAU Began in Philadelphia tial market for the new compressed-drug It was in Garden City that Wellcome had technology that had been developed in the his first exposure to the pharmaceutical busi- uS.5 (p. 8) ness, in the local drugstore owned by his un- Although Wellwme, who had other op- cle Jacob. He soon moved to the neighbor- tions to consider, did not immediately act ing town of Rochester, taking a job with the on the offer, he left his employment with pharmaceutical firm of Pool and Gcisinger. McKesson & Robbins and went to England There, as company historian Gilbert Mac- with the agreement that he could act as sole domdd notes in Wehome: In Pursuit ?fEx- agent for their products in the UK and all cellence, he was befriended by physician other countries outside the US. 5 (p. 7) The William Mayo, whose sons would later terms of his agreement permitted him to as- found the famous clinic of that name in sociate with partners, and in September 1880 Rochester.s (p. 5) With Mayo’s encourage- Wellcome and Burroughs signed a deed of ment and assistance, Wellcome attended the partnership, establishing the firm of Bur- Chicago College of Pharmacy, Illinois, and roughs Wellcome & CO.4 (p. 8) later the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, Both men worked tirelessly for their new from which he graduated in 1874. venture. As Macdonald notes, each pos-

15 entific character in our story, Burroughs de- serves to be remembered for the manage- ment style he pioneered.

The WeI1corne Foundation Ltd.

As the nineteenth century ended, Bur- roughs Wellcome & Co. gained prominence in the pharmaceutical industry. The firm marketed a variety of compressed drugs and other products under the trademark “Tabloid” (a term coined by Wellcome). Wellcome displayed a genius for promotion and publicity, designing elaborate displays for trade shows and cultivating relationships Sir Henry Wel[come with physicians and pharmacists. The com- pany supplied quinine and other medicines in tabloid form to missionaries and ex- sessed strong, if different, personalities. plorers, including the African explorer Wellcome was a frugal man, a perfectionist H.M, Stanley.s (Later the company would who could be immovably obstinate once he furnish medical supplies to, among others, had made up his mind. Burroughs, who was aviator Charles Lindtmgh and astronauts on outgoing and deeply interested in the social the Apollo moon missions.) In 1924, with and economic problems of the day, was ex- the company prospering in the UK and tremely dedicated to the welfare of company abroad, Wellcome consolidated his various employees. He was one of the first employ- enterprises into one private company, which ers in the UK, for example, to introduce an he named the Wellcome Foundation Ltd. eight-hour day. He also encouraged the staff The US branch of the organization, Bur- to take up outside pursuits, such as music roughs Wellcome Co. (as it’s still known to- and literature, and set up an education plan day) was founded in New York City in 1906 enabling employees to attend a technical in- and later moved to Tuckahoe, New York. stitute near the company’s plant in Dartford. In 1970the company relocated to No* Car- As Macdonrdd notes, Burroughs’s en- olina, with manufacturing facilities in lightened, committed attitude toward em- Greenville and research and corporate head- ployee welfare was considerably ahead of quarters in Research Triangle Park. its tirne.s (p. 19) By 1924 Wellcome had overseen the Unfortunately, relations between Well- founding of several facilities in England de- come and Burroughs grew sour and increas- voted to research. These included the Phys- ingly contentious in the course of their iological Research Laboratories, Kent, 15-year partnership. Turner notes that the founded in 1894, which performed investi- problem, in all likelihood, was jealousy, gations in bacteriology, pharmacology, and with senior partner Burroughs attempting to veterinary medicine, among other areas. thwart Wellcome’s insistence on complete There were also the Chemical Research control of the business.d (p. 12) In any Laboratories, London (1896), which, in the event, Burroughs died of pleurisy in 1895 words of a 1933 Wellcome publication, in his 49th year, leaving Wellcome in sole were established to perform research “par- charge of the company. However, it is im- ticularly in connexion with organic, portant to point out that Burroughs played organo-metallic, and synthetic medica- a major role in the success of the firm. In ments. “b (p. 9) Henry Wellcome also took the first 15 years of a new venture, patterns a deep interest in tropicrd diseases. During are established that have effects for genera- a visit to the Sudan in 1900, he witnessed tions. While Wellcome is the principal sci- firsthand the effects of malaria. cattle dis-

16 ease, and other tropical ailments and the riously lonely, ” observed a close associate concurrent famine among the populace. He following Wellcome’s death. “It may be immediately set about establishing a tropi- doubted whether anyone knew him with suf- cal research laboratory at the Gordon ficient intimacy to do more than spwulate Memorial College in Khartoum. This facil- as to his real feelings and motives.’ ‘A ity eventually included a fully equipped (p. 28) According to Ghislaine M. Skimer, floating laboratory on the river Nile.b Wellcome Museum of the History of Meal- (p. 11) In 1920 the Entomological Field icine, Wellcome seldom committed his Laboratories were established in Surrey to thoughts to paper. He also exerted tight con- investigate mosquitoes and other insect trol over every aspect of his museum ven- pests.b (p. 9) They were a subsidiary of the ture, particularly in the wording of adver- Wellcome Bureau of Scientific Research, tisements, notices, and publications. 1 This which had been founded in London in 1913. authoritarian approach was apparently typ- By the end of the 1920s Wellcome was ical of his management style. As Turner increasingly spending time on his various in- notes, one of his favorite sayings was, terests. One of these was archaeology. At “Never tell anyone what you propose to do one site in the Sudan, known as Jebel Moya, until you have done it. ” Those people still Wellcome had spent the better part of four living who remember Wellcome, when years between 1910 and 1914 organizing asked for personal reminiscences about him, and supporting an army of native laborers have surprisingly little to say.q (p. 32) that eventually numbered 3,000. The effort Whale he may have lacked for a family and unearthed significant artifacts dating from close friends, Wellcome took great satisfac- 1000 to 400 BC.A (p. 24) tion in work, in travel, and in hk many in- Wellcome had always been intensely in- terests, including the formation of his terested in anthropology and archaeology— museum. beginning with his boyhood observations of In 1913, after years of preparation, Well- the American Indians-and he had always come opened his collection of mdlcal arti- collected objects. As Turner notes, even facts as the Wellcome Historical Medical before Wellcome arrived in England in 1880 Museum in London. Over the years the col- he had amassed a museum-qualhy collection lection grew and expanded. As D.C. Watts, of anthropological objects possessing, as he Guy’s Hospital Medical School, London, put it, “strong medical significance.”4 points out, by the time of Wellcome’s death (p. 38) While his early collecting may have in 1936 the “truly incredible” collection in- been for his own interest and amusement, cluded 10,000 microscopic slides, more than by 1900 Wellcome was increasing his col- 40,000 surgical instruments dating back to lection with a more serious goal in mind: Roman times, over 7,000 coins and medals a museum of the history of medicine. He of medical interest-in all over 125,000 ob- traveled extensively in Europe in the years jects.g The collection eventually included preceding World War I, adding to his col- dioramas and exhibits depicting significant lection. He had married Gwendoline Syrie events in the history of medicine. Bamardo in 1901, but the constant travel to But Wellcome’s collection was not con- places she “detested” in search of curios fined to medical objects. As Skinner notes, was apparently one factor in the couple’s by the 1930s the collection encompassed 1910 separation and eventual divorce. Well- more than one million objects and included come was granted custody of the couple’s weapons, model ships, fabrics, furniture, son Mounteney (1903- 1987).4 (p. 30-1) statuary, and a variety of antiquities from Despite Wellcome’s hopes, his son did not throughout the world. At one time the col- follow him into the business. lection’s annual expenditures on acquisitions The failure of his marriage strongly af- exceeded those of the .T feeted Wellcome, who, although he had The entire collection was so large and friends and enjoyed social engagements, was diverse, in fact, that much of it remained by most accounts a remote man towards the warehoused over the years, unseen by the end of his life. “Henry Wellcome... was cu- public. By 1983, however, after an exten-

17 sive six-year program of cataloging and The Modern Era evaluation, most of the nonrnedicaf items had been dispersrxi, either to their places of With typical foresight, Wellcome made origin or to appropriate museums. g very specific arrangements in his wilf for the The WeUcome Historical Medical Muse- continuation of his business enterprises, in- um occupied various spaces in its history, cluding the museum and research facilities. moving to the Wellcome Budding on Euston He created the Wellcome Tmst, directing Road, London, in 1932. In 1972 the WeU- that a board of trustees be empowered as come Trustees decided it would be best to sole shareholders of the foundation. Well- transfer the collection to a nationaf muse- come’s will stipulated that company funds um. Appropriate arrangements were made fX directed to the advancement of research with the Science Museum. Today, the “which may conduce to the improvement WeUcome Museum of the History of Med- of the physicrd condkions of mankind,” in- icine occupies two gaUeries at the Science cluding medicine, surgery, chemistry, phys- Museum and, as Watts notes, constitutes iology, and pharmacy.4 (p. 79) “the largest and most comprehensive In the half-century since Wellcome died, display devoted to the hktory of medicine the WeUcome Trust has become the largest anywhere in the world.”s generaf me-dkal research charity in the Remaining at the Euston Road site is a UK. The trust’s budget for 1985-1986, for separate collection, the Wellcome Museurn example, was in excess of f30 miUion. 12 of Medical Science, a facility for researchers (p. 3) and medical historians. As noted by A.J. During the 1970s and 1980s, concerned Duggan, Wellcome Museurn, the vast col- that the trust’s assets consisted solely of a lection of slides, X rays, instruments, spec- holding of shares in a single company, the imens, and other objects serves as a valuable trustees began seeking ways to diversi~. 12 resource for students and researchers, par- (p. 21) In 1986, the year the Wellcome Trust ticularly in tropical medicine. 10In fact, the celebrated its 50th anniversary, the privately museum was recently renamed the WeU- held company went public for the first time, come Tropical Institute Museum and is in offering roughly 25 percent of its stock for the process of relocating to new quarters sale. The trust now holds 75 percent of the across from the Wellcome Buifding. The shares in a publicly quoted company and museum’s displays are being redesigned and uses dividends to support fellowships, lec- speciafly prepared so that they can be loaned tureships, and research in a variety of sub- for use in developing countries. ject areas. These include epidemiology, The WeUcome Building also houses the mentaf health and neuroscience, tropical Library of the WeUcome Institute for the medicine and inktions diseases, veterinary History of Medicine. As writer Charlotte medicine, vision research, physiology, phar- Gray points out in the (htadiarr h-fea!ic~~- macology, and other areas. In the US, the sociation Journal, the library is one of the Burroughs WeUcome Fund, established in largest of its kind in the world, containing 1955, has provided approximately $25 mil- over 400,000 books, 10,000 western and lion in grants, feUowships, and awards for oriental manuscripts, 100,000 letters of the advancement of medical knowledge, par- medicaf and scientific interest, and a vari- ticularly research and teaching in clinical ety of other documents. 1I pharmacology. 13 As Turner notes, Henry Welfcome devot- Over the years mahy researchers associ- ed the last 25 years of his life to amassing ated with the Wellcome Foundation have his collection with one ambition in mind: the produced highly cited work and have been establishment of a Museum of Man.4 (p. 2) featured in our essays. Vane, for example, Unfortunately, he never lived to see his plan who wrote about his work in prostaglandins ftrfly realimi. He died in London in 1936 in a 1980 Citation Ckrsic@ commentary, I’t at the age of 82. He had become a British was discussed in the essay on the 1982 No- citizen in 1910 and in 1932 was knighted for bel Prizes. is He was also mentioned in a his contributions to science and the empire. 1981 essay on aspirinlb and in our 1978 se-

18 ries on the 300 most-cited authors, 1961- commercial success with acyclovir (Zovir- 1976.17 Another researcher, Sir James W. ax), a treatment for genital and other forms Black, well known for his work with beta of herpes. zl blockers, was also affiliated at one time with More than a century after he founded the the Wellcome company. Black’s work ap- company, the goals that Henry Wellcome peared in our 1974 study of highly cited ar- worked for during his lifetime—putting re- ticles in medical and clinical journals. 18He search to work in the service of humanity was also featured in a 1982 essay on recipi- and educating the public about the history ents of the John Scott Award. 19 of science and medicine-remain important The Wellcome company remains a highly goals of the Wellcome Trust. visible and profitable concern. For exam- ple, the company recently introduced AZT ***** (trade name Retrovir). This drug has shown promise in the treatment of AIDS, although My thanks to C.J. Fiscus and C7v-ktopher there has been some controversy regarding King for their help in the preparation of this its and distribution.zo The Well- essay. come company has also had spectacular r[s11,m

REFERENCES

1. Grrrtleld E. The legacy of Albert C. Barnes, Parta 1 & 2. Essays of on in~ormaricmscieti”sf. Philadelphia: 1S1 %CSS, 1983. Vol. 5, p. 387-94; 455-63, 2. Vane J R. The Welkome Centenary, Heary S. WeUcome, his research philosophy aad current exciterrrenta.Tron.r. Med. Sot. London 97:41-50, 1981. 3. Drsggarr A J. Henry WeUcome: srchkcr of trapicsf opportunities. Tram. Roy. Sot. Trop. Med. Hyg. 75:477-83, 1981. 4. Trsrrrer H. Henry Wellcorrre: ?6s man, his collection and his legacy. London: Heirrcmarrrr,1980.96 p. 5. Macrfmmld G. Wellcorrse: in pursuit of excellence. London: Wellcome Foundation, 1980, 120 p, 6. WeUcosne Foundation, J7se Wellcorne Research lnstitudon and the ajJiliated research kboratories and mu.reurna. London WeUcom Foundation, 1933. 62 p. 7. SfdrrsrerGM. Sir Hem-y Wekorrre’s museum for the sciersce of history. Med. Hi.rt. 3tk383-418, 1986. 8. Watts D C. The WeUcome Musemn of the History of Medicine. Bbchem. Sac. Trans. 10:187-8, 1982. 9, RoaseU G. The WeUcnme Historical Medical Museum’s dispersal of non-medical material, 1936-1983. Museums J. 86(Supp.):S3-15, 1986. 10. Doggan A J. A brief histary of the WeUcome Museum of Medicaf Science. Trans. Roy. Sac. Trop, Med. Hyg. 75(Supp.):29-31, 1981. 11. Gray C. The WeUcome Library: reflection of an insatiable collector. Gus. Med. A.m. J. 126:712-20, 1982. 12. Truatw of tfse Weffcome Trssst. SO years of the Wellcame Trust. 1936-19S6. Sixteenth report. London: WeUcorrw Trust, 1987.306 p. 13. Creaay W N. The Burroughs WeUcome Fmrd Clinical Pharmacology Award program. Clin. PharnkacOL 7her. 7:112-6, 1966. 14. Vmse J R. Citation Classic. Commentary on Nature New BioL 231:232-5, 1971. (Barrett J T, cd.) Contemporary cfassics in the life sciences. Vohane 2: the molecules of Ife. Phifadelpfria: 1S1 Press, 1986, p. 51. (Reprinted frarn. Curreru Contents/Life Sciences 23(42):12, 20 October 1980.) 15. Garfteld E. The 1982 Nobel Prize in mcdiciw rmogrrizes the impact of prostaglamiin research by SK. Bergsrrdm, B.I. Samuelsson, and J.R. Varre. Up. cir., 1985. Vol. 7, p. 77-86. 16. ——. Asptiln: headache or health promoter? Ibid., 1983. Vol. 5. p. 238-46. (Reprinted frarrx Current Contents (37):5-13, 14 September 1981.) 17. --—-—. The 303 most-cited authors, 1%1-1976, including cc-authors at last. 1. How the srames were selected. J6id., 1980. Vol. 3. p. 538-50. (Reprinted from: CurrerrtContents (28):5-17, 10 July 1978.) 18. ---.——-. Journrd citation studies. VIIL Some highty cited articles frrrmhigfdy cited general mdicrd and clinical journals. 16id., 1977. Vol. 2. p. 86-93. (Reprinted from: Current Contents (27):5-12, 3 July 1974.) 19. -——--- Since 1816 the John Scott smd other Philadelphia awarda have recognized ‘‘usefuf” scientific discoveries-James Black mrd Benjamin Rubin head a list of recent distinguished recipients. Ibid., 1983. Vol. 5. p. 686-94. (Reprinted from: Current Coneents (38):5-12, 20 September 1982.) 20. Kolata G. Jruminent markerirrgof AZT raises problems. Science 235:1462-3, 1987. 21. Treichel J A. Acyclovir crarnters recurrent hews. Sci, News 122:214, 1982.

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