George Taylor Fulford

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George Taylor Fulford

George Taylor Fulford (August 8, 1852 – October 13, 1905) was a prominent Canadian businessman, politician, and one of the first Canadians to become a millionaire through the patent medicine business. He is best known for his development and marketing of Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People, a popular patent medicine in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Early Life

George Taylor Fulford was born in Brockville, Ontario, Canada, into a family with deep roots in the region. His father, Hiram Fulford, was a successful merchant, which allowed George to receive a good education and eventually enter the business world.

Business Career

In the early 1870s, Fulford entered the pharmaceutical business by purchasing a drug store in Brockville. His business acumen became evident through his successful management and expansion of the store. However, it was his venture into the patent medicine industry that would make him a fortune.

In 1890, Fulford acquired the rights to Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People, a patent medicine that claimed to treat a variety of ailments. Through aggressive marketing and advertising campaigns, which included testimonials and newspaper advertisements, Fulford turned the pills into an international success. The medicine was sold in numerous countries, making Fulford one of the first Canadian businessmen to achieve international success in the patent medicine industry.

Political Career

Fulford's success in business also led him into politics. He served as a Liberal member of the Canadian Senate from 1900 until his death in 1905. During his time in the Senate, he was known for his advocacy of liberal economic policies and his support for the expansion of the Canadian economy.

Personal Life and Legacy

George Taylor Fulford married Mary Wilder White in 1876, and the couple had several children. The Fulfords lived in a grand mansion in Brockville, known as Fulford Place, which is now a museum operated by the Ontario Heritage Trust.

Fulford's sudden death in 1905, resulting from an automobile accident in Massachusetts, was widely mourned. He left behind a legacy of entrepreneurial success and philanthropy, having donated generously to various causes and institutions during his lifetime.

Fulford's life and career are notable for his pioneering role in the patent medicine industry and his contributions to Canadian business and politics. His story is a testament to the opportunities and challenges of the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Canada.