Eli Lilly and Company was founded in 1876 by former Union Army colonel Eli Lilly.
Lilly was a pharmaceutical chemist who established the company in Indianapolis, Indiana, after serving in the American Civil War. He wanted to produce medicines with more consistent composition and quality than many preparations available at the time.
The company initially focused on pharmaceutical products and gradually developed a research-based business. Its later history includes major medicines for diabetes, cancer, mental health, and other conditions.
The founder’s military title is part of his name in many historical accounts, but he was not related to the confectionery company associated with the Lilly family name. Eli Lilly and Company is also distinct from the British pharmaceutical business known as Lilly, which is its international brand identity in some markets.