Lunsford Richardson
Encyclopedia
Lunsford Richardson , 1854-1919, was a U.S. pharmacist
from Selma, North Carolina
, and the founder of Vick Chemical Company (which became Richardson Vicks Inc.
). He died August 20, 1919.
, where he graduated with highest honors in Latin in 1875. He taught at The Little River Academy before he became a pharmacist. He married Mary Lynn Smith, from Greensboro, North Carolina
in about 1884. Their son, H. Smith Richardson, 1885-1972, was born on July 19. His second son was Lunsford Richardson 1891-1953. He also had 3 daughters.
Lunsford bought a drugstore in Selma where he concocted and sold a menthol-laced ointment for "croupy" babies that he labeled "Vick's" in honor of Dr. Joshua W. Vick, his brother-in-law who helped him get established in business. Later he sold the store in Selma and bought one in Greensboro.
This was the Porter and Tate Drugstore - Dr. Porter was the uncle of William Sydney Porter, the author known as O. Henry
.
, a new and little known drug from Japan
, added to a balm. Since the product was used only externally, there was no risk of stomach upset. It was originally called Vicks Croup and Pneumonia Salve before it became VapoRub.
Initially, Vicks struggled to sell outside the Greensboro area until Lunsford's son, H. Smith, decided to concentrate only on the renamed VapoRub, the one unique and distinctive product of the 21.
August 22, 1919 said, "he never passed anyone on the street, young or old, black or white, without a nod and a smile." He was particularly interested in the welfare of African-Americans. During World War II
, a Liberty ship
was christened the S.S. Lunsford Richardson at "special request of the leading Negro citizens of North Carolina to honor the memory of a white friend." L. Richardson Memorial Hospital in Greensboro was renamed to honor him after receiving his donations for a modernization program, it originally served the black community.
- Richardson-Merrell Inc. attempted to market thalidomide in the U.S. and was denied by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for lack of safety studies.
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
from Selma, North Carolina
Selma, North Carolina
Selma is a town in Johnston County, North Carolina, United States. In 2007, the estimated population was 7,008. Selma is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region.-Geography:Selma is located at ....
, and the founder of Vick Chemical Company (which became Richardson Vicks Inc.
Vicks
Vicks is a line of over-the-counter medications owned by the American company Procter & Gamble. Vicks manufactures NyQuil and its sister medication, DayQuil. The Vicks brand also produces Formula 44 cough medicines, cough drops, VapoRub, and a number of inhaled breathing treatments...
). He died August 20, 1919.
Early life
Lunsford was born in 1854 on a farm near Selma, North Carolina. He attended Davidson CollegeDavidson College
Davidson College is a private liberal arts college in Davidson, North Carolina. The college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently ranked in the top ten liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News and World Report magazine, although it has recently dropped to 11th in U.S. News...
, where he graduated with highest honors in Latin in 1875. He taught at The Little River Academy before he became a pharmacist. He married Mary Lynn Smith, from Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
in about 1884. Their son, H. Smith Richardson, 1885-1972, was born on July 19. His second son was Lunsford Richardson 1891-1953. He also had 3 daughters.
Lunsford bought a drugstore in Selma where he concocted and sold a menthol-laced ointment for "croupy" babies that he labeled "Vick's" in honor of Dr. Joshua W. Vick, his brother-in-law who helped him get established in business. Later he sold the store in Selma and bought one in Greensboro.
This was the Porter and Tate Drugstore - Dr. Porter was the uncle of William Sydney Porter, the author known as O. Henry
O. Henry
O. Henry was the pen name of the American writer William Sydney Porter . O. Henry's short stories are well known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization and clever twist endings.-Early life:...
.
Development of VapoRub
While working in Greensboro he developed a number of home remedies under the name "Vicks." This name was suggested to him from an advertisement for Vick's Seeds, and Vick was also the last name of his brother-in-law, a family physician. It was short and easy to remember. Eventually there were 21 "Vicks Family Remedies." The main product included mentholMenthol
Menthol is an organic compound made synthetically or obtained from peppermint or other mint oils. It is a waxy, crystalline substance, clear or white in color, which is solid at room temperature and melts slightly above. The main form of menthol occurring in nature is -menthol, which is assigned...
, a new and little known drug from Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, added to a balm. Since the product was used only externally, there was no risk of stomach upset. It was originally called Vicks Croup and Pneumonia Salve before it became VapoRub.
Founding Vicks
In 1898, he sold his drugstore and formed Lunsford Richardson Wholesale Drug company, one of only 4 wholesale drug companies in North Carolina. He sold the 21 Vicks products as well as other drugs. In 1905 he sold the wholesale drug company and founded Vicks Family Remedies Company, which became Richardson-Merrell Inc, and later Richardson Vicks Inc.Initially, Vicks struggled to sell outside the Greensboro area until Lunsford's son, H. Smith, decided to concentrate only on the renamed VapoRub, the one unique and distinctive product of the 21.
Civic activities
Lunsford was active in Church activities (as elder to First Presbyterian). An editorial in the Greensboro Daily NewsGreensboro News & Record
The News & Record is the largest newspaper serving Guilford County and the surrounding region. It is based in Greensboro, NC, and produces local sections for Greensboro and Rockingham County, NC. As of April, 2011, it had an average weekday circulation of 60,993 and an average Sunday circulation...
August 22, 1919 said, "he never passed anyone on the street, young or old, black or white, without a nod and a smile." He was particularly interested in the welfare of African-Americans. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, a Liberty ship
Liberty ship
Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by...
was christened the S.S. Lunsford Richardson at "special request of the leading Negro citizens of North Carolina to honor the memory of a white friend." L. Richardson Memorial Hospital in Greensboro was renamed to honor him after receiving his donations for a modernization program, it originally served the black community.
See also
ThalidomideThalidomide
Thalidomide was introduced as a sedative drug in the late 1950s that was typically used to cure morning sickness. In 1961, it was withdrawn due to teratogenicity and neuropathy. There is now a growing clinical interest in thalidomide, and it is introduced as an immunomodulatory agent used...
- Richardson-Merrell Inc. attempted to market thalidomide in the U.S. and was denied by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for lack of safety studies.