Johann Benckiser

Johann Adam Benckiser (30 December 1782 – 7 May 1851) was the founder of Benckiser N.V., a major Dutch chemicals business. The business is now part of Reckitt Benckiser, a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

Benckiser founded a business in Pforzheim, Germany specialising in industrial and consumer goods industrial chemicals in 1823. He initially made ammonia, hydrochloric acid and ammonium chloride. Karl Ludwig Reimann, a chemist, joined the business in 1828 and married Benckiser's daughter. Benckiser died in May 1851.