Gerard Leonard Frederik Philips (9 October 1858 – 26 January 1942) was a Dutch industrialist and co-founder, with his father Frederik Philips, of
Philips
Koninklijke Philips N.V. (), simply branded Philips, is a Dutch multinational health technology company that was founded in Eindhoven in 1891. Since 1997, its world headquarters have been situated in Amsterdam, though the Benelux headquarter ...
as a family business in 1891. In 1912, Gerard and his younger brother
Anton Philips converted the business to a corporation by founding NV Philips' Gloeilampenfabrieken.
Career and family
Born to a Dutch family, his father Benjamin Frederik David Philips was a first cousin to
Karl Marx
Karl Marx (; 5 May 1818 – 14 March 1883) was a German philosopher, political theorist, economist, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. He is best-known for the 1848 pamphlet '' The Communist Manifesto'' (written with Friedrich Engels) ...
(Gerard's paternal grandmother Sophie Pressburg was a sister of
Henriette Pressburg, the mother of Karl Marx). His mother was Maria Heyligers. His grandfather was tobacco merchant
Lion Philips.
Gerard Philips became interested in electronics and engineering. His father Frederik financed Gerard's purchase of the old factory building in Eindhoven where he established the first factory in 1891. With his brother he came up with a plan: cost effective, reliable incandescent light bulbs. They initially operated the Philips Company as a family business, with Gerard's younger brother Anton and Anton's son
Frits Philips and son-in-law
Frans Otten later brought into the business.
[Koopmans, Joop W, and A H. Huussen. ''Historical Dictionary of the Netherlands.'' Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press, 2007 p.176]
On 19 March 1896, Philips married Johanna van der Willigen (30 September 1862 – 1942). They had no children.
Civic activities
Gerard and his brother
Anton supported education and social initiatives in Eindhoven, including the Philips Sport Vereniging (Philips Sports Association), which they founded. From it the professional football department developed into the independent
Philips Sport Vereniging N.V.
References
External links
Biography Gerard Philips (1989)
Gerard Philipsi
ODIS - Online Database for Intermediary Structures
Archives of Gerard Philips 1922-1970i
ODIS - Online Database for Intermediary Structures
Archives of Gerard Philips 1962-1965i
ODIS - Online Database for Intermediary Structures
1858 births
1942 deaths
People from Zaltbommel
Dutch Jews
Dutch chief executives in the manufacturing industry
Dutch technology chief executives
Chairmen of Philips
Delft University of Technology alumni
Dutch company founders
20th-century Dutch businesspeople
19th-century Dutch businesspeople
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