Philip Danforth Armour

Philip Danforth Armour (May 16, 1832 – January 6, 1901) was an American meatpacking industrialist who founded the Armour and Company in Chicago, Illinois. He was also a prominent philanthropist, establishing the Armour Institute of Technology in 1893, which later became the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Early Life

Philip Danforth Armour was born on May 16, 1832, in Stockbridge, New York. He was the second son of Danforth Armour and Juliana Ann Brooks. His family was of Scottish descent and his father was a farmer.

Career

In 1863, Armour partnered with Frederick Miles in the grain business to form the firm of Armour, Plankinton & Co. The company was involved in the production of canned meat, which was sold to the Union Army during the Civil War. After the war, Armour moved to Chicago and established Armour and Company, one of the first global meatpacking companies.

Armour's business innovations included the extensive use of refrigeration to keep meat fresh during transport, the introduction of the assembly line style of mass production, and the use of byproducts to create a variety of goods, such as glue, fertilizer, and gelatin.

Philanthropy

In 1893, Armour donated $1 million to found the Armour Institute of Technology, a professional school for engineers, chemists, architects, and library assistants. The school later merged with the Lewis Institute to form the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Personal Life

Armour married Malvina Belle Ogden in 1862, and they had five children. His son, J. Ogden Armour, succeeded him as the head of Armour and Company.

Death and Legacy

Armour died on January 6, 1901, in Chicago. His legacy lives on through the Illinois Institute of Technology, and his innovative practices in the meatpacking industry continue to influence modern methods of food production and distribution.

See Also

• Armour and Company
• Illinois Institute of Technology
• J. Ogden Armour

References

• The Meat Tycoon Who Revolutionized American Eating by Maureen Ogle
• Philip D. Armour: Missionary of Meat by Hunter Lewis

External Links

• Britannica Online Encyclopedia
• Chicago Historical Society