Squibb, Edward Robinson

Squibb, Edward Robinson (1819–1900) pharmacologist, manufacturing chemist; born in Wilmington, Del. Four years as a naval surgeon (1847–51) convinced him of the need for better quality pharmaceuticals. As director of the Navy Pharmacy (1853–57), he improved techniques for the manufacture of ether and chloroform and other pharmaceuticals. In 1858 he opened his own firm, Edward R. Squibb, M.D., in Brooklyn; after an explosion destroyed the lab, it was reopened as E. R. Squibb & Sons (1892) and continued to pioneer both the basic research and manufacture of pharmaceuticals. He shared his knowledge in over 100 papers in the American Journal of Pharmacy and other publications.