Eli Lilly was founded in 1876 by Colonel Eli Lilly in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical chemist and Union army colonel, established the company on May 10, 1876. He wanted to produce medicines with more consistent quality than many preparations available at the time. The company began with three employees, including Lilly’s son Josiah K. Lilly Sr.
The business became known for emphasizing standardized manufacturing and research. In the twentieth century, Eli Lilly helped commercialize products including insulin and penicillin-related medicines. Its later portfolio expanded into diabetes, oncology, immunology, and neuroscience treatments.
Eli Lilly is sometimes confused with Lilly Endowment, a separate philanthropic organization created by members of the Lilly family. The company’s formal name is Eli Lilly and Company, while its stock-market symbol is LLY. Its founding date is 1876, not the date of any individual drug launch.