Dorrance, John T.

Dorrance, John T. (Thompson) (1873–1930) food manufacturer; born in Bristol, Pa. He took his doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of Göttingen in Germany but turned down prestigious academic posts to work in his uncle's canning factory, the Joseph Campbell Preserve Company, in Camden, N.J. In 1897 he outfitted a laboratory on the company premises with the idea of replicating the soups he had enjoyed in Europe, but in condensed form. By 1904 his soups had begun to dominate company sales. By 1910 he was general manager and the company was making only soups and pork and beans. His uncle retired in 1914. Dorrance became president and, by 1915, sole owner of Campbell Soup; he turned the company into a major international producer of canned soups.