Since our founding in 1886, we have grown to meet the health care needs of people worldwide. Through mergers, acquisitions and the formation of new companies, we have become the world’s largest and most broadly based health care company. Here are some highlights of our historical growth.

1886 – 1926: Johnson & Johnson Founded With Surgical and Wound Care Products
In 1886, our founders – Robert Wood Johnson, James Wood Johnson and Edward Mead Johnson – started a small medical products company in New Brunswick, New Jersey. They made the first-ever commercial sterile surgical dressings, which helped save the lives of patients.

• We introduced dental floss, the first First Aid kits, sanitary napkins for women, sterile sutures, JOHNSON’S® Baby Powder, and BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages.
• Our international expansion began with Canada in 1919 and England in 1924.
• Our disaster relief program began in 1906 when, within hours of the San Francisco earthquake and fire, we sent trainloads of our products to the city to help survivors.

1926 – 1946: Growth of Product Lines and Expansion Overseas Help Johnson & Johnson Go Public
In 1943 our chairman Robert Wood Johnson wrote Our Credo, outlining our responsibilities to doctors, nurses, patients, consumers, employees, and the community. During this period we also continued our overseas growth and began to broaden our efforts in pharmaceuticals and medical products.

• We expanded into Mexico, South Africa, Australia, France, Belgium, Ireland, Switzerland, Argentina, and Brazil.
• We introduced MODESS® sanitary napkins and JOHNSON’S® Baby Oil and Baby Lotion. We also launched the first U.S. prescription birth control product, ORTHO GYNOL® Gel, in 1931.
• In 1944 we became a publicly traded company.

1946 – 1966: Continued Product Growth and Our Credo Position Johnson & Johnson as Responsible Industry Leader.
We steadily continued our growth during these decades.

• We expanded to Zimbabwe, Austria, Sweden, the Philippines, Colombia, Puerto Rico, the Netherlands, India, Scotland, Pakistan, Zambia, Venezuela, Italy, Malaysia and Portugal.
• New companies formed or acquired included:
  • ETHICON, Inc., Personal Products Company (products related to women’s health);
  • McNeil Laboratories, Inc. (bringing us TYLENOL® acetaminophen);
  • European pharmaceutical companies Cilag Chemie, A.G. and Janssen Pharmaceutica, and Codman & Shurtleff, Inc. (medical and surgical instruments).
• In 1963 Ortho Pharmaceutical began marketing its first birth control pill, ORTHO-NOVUM® 10 mg.