John Boot | |
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Born | 1815 |
Died | 1860 (aged 44–45) |
Nationality | British |
Occupation | Farm worker, chemist |
Years active | 1849—1860 |
Known for | Sole founder of Boots the Chemists |
Spouse(s) | Mary Mills |
Children |
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John Boot (1815 – 1860) was the founder of Boots the Chemists. His son Jesse Boot transformed the company into a retailer known throughout the world.
Boot was born in Radcliffe on Trent in 1815 and was a farm worker until illness forced him to change career. Boot moved to Hockley Village.
From the herbal remedies his mother made, Boot started up a trade of making and selling herbal remedies. Boot was not trained as a chemist and learned his later profession.
He later married Mary Wills who gave birth to two children: Jesse and Jane.
In 1849 Boot opened his herbalist shop in Goose Gate, Nottingham, that would become the roots of the Boots UK empire.
Even as a chemist, Boot's health did not improve and he died in 1860, leaving his wife and business behind. Mary Boot carried on with the business as M & J Boot, Herbalists.