Colonel Eli Lilly established Eli Lilly and Company in 1876.
Eli Lilly founded the company in Indianapolis, Indiana, after serving as a pharmaceutical chemist and Union officer during the American Civil War. He wanted to produce medicines with consistent composition and reliable quality, a significant concern in an era when drug preparations could vary considerably.
The company initially manufactured pharmaceutical products and gradually developed into a major research-based drug maker. Its later portfolio included insulin, antibiotics, psychiatric medicines, and treatments for diabetes and other conditions.
The founder’s military title is part of his commonly used name, but he was not the same person as Eli Lilly’s later descendants who led the company. The company’s modern market value is linked to its pharmaceutical business, not to the unrelated soft-drink brand Coca-Cola.