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He declined offers to teach chemistry at [[Bryn Mawr College]], [[Columbia University]], [[Cornell University]], and University of Göttingen, and chose a job as a chemist<ref name=NYTimes/> with the Joseph Campbell Preserve Company that his uncle owned. He implemented his idea to pack soup in a condensed form. This process kept the flavor of the soup but reduced the weight and bulk of water and therefore saved on container sizes and shipping costs.{{sfn|Cutler|1919|p=74}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.campbellsoup.com.au/about-campbells/our-history.aspx |title=History of the Campbell Soup Company |accessdate=28 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716093202/http://www.campbellsoup.com.au/about-campbells/our-history.aspx |archive-date=16 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
He declined offers to teach chemistry at [[Bryn Mawr College]], [[Columbia University]], [[Cornell University]], and University of Göttingen, and chose a job as a chemist<ref name=NYTimes/> with the Joseph Campbell Preserve Company that his uncle owned. He implemented his idea to pack soup in a condensed form. This process kept the flavor of the soup but reduced the weight and bulk of water and therefore saved on container sizes and shipping costs.{{sfn|Cutler|1919|p=74}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.campbellsoup.com.au/about-campbells/our-history.aspx |title=History of the Campbell Soup Company |accessdate=28 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716093202/http://www.campbellsoup.com.au/about-campbells/our-history.aspx |archive-date=16 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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In 1899, he produced the first batch of condensed soup. In 1900, he became a director and vice-president, and in 1914 became president and general manager.<ref name=NYTimes/> |
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Dorrance went on to become the president of Campbell Soup Company from 1914 to 1930, eventually buying out the Campbell family.{{citation needed|date= August 2023}} He turned the business into one of America’s longest-lasting brands. He was succeeded by his brother, Arthur Dorrance.{{citation needed|date= August 2023}} |
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In 1917, he was nominated by President [[Herbert Hoover]] for a position in the [[United States Food Administration]]. He worked as a director in the [[National State Bank (Camden, New Jersey)|National State Bank]] in Camden, New Jersey.{{sfn|Cutler|1919|p=74}} |
In 1917, he was nominated by President [[Herbert Hoover]] for a position in the [[United States Food Administration]]. He worked as a director in the [[National State Bank (Camden, New Jersey)|National State Bank]] in Camden, New Jersey.{{sfn|Cutler|1919|p=74}} |
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Revision as of 16:50, 26 November 2025
American chemist and businessman (1873-1930)
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John Thompson Dorrance |
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| Born | November 11, 1873 |
| Died | September 21, 1930 (aged 56) |
| Resting place | West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Education | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS) Göttingen University (PhD) |
| Occupation(s) | Chemist, businessman President & owner, Campbell Soup Company |
| Spouse | Ethel Mallinckrodt |
| Children | 4 |
| Relatives | John Dorrance III (grandson) Mary Alice Dorrance Malone (granddaughter) George W. Strawbridge Jr. (grandson) Dorrance Hill Hamilton (granddaughter) |
John Thompson Dorrance (November 11, 1873 – September 21, 1930) was an American chemist and businessman who invented a process to create condensed soup. He served as president of the Campbell Soup Company from 1914 to 1930.
Early life and education
Dorrance was born November 11, 1873, in Bristol, Pennsylvania. He attended the Rugby Academy in Philadelphia and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1895. He received a Ph.D. degree from the University of Göttingen in Germany in 1897. He worked in several restaurants in Paris, learned about soup flavorings, and had the idea to prepare and package soup in condensed form.[2]
Career
He declined offers to teach chemistry at Bryn Mawr College, Columbia University, Cornell University, and University of Göttingen, and chose a job as a chemist[2] with the Joseph Campbell Preserve Company that his uncle owned. He implemented his idea to pack soup in a condensed form. This process kept the flavor of the soup but reduced the weight and bulk of water and therefore saved on container sizes and shipping costs.[4]
In 1899, he produced the first batch of condensed soup. In 1900, he became a director and vice-president, and in 1914 became president and general manager.[2]
In 1917, he was nominated by President Herbert Hoover for a position in the United States Food Administration. He worked as a director in the National State Bank in Camden, New Jersey.
Personal life
In 1906 he married Ethel Mallinckrodt and together they had four daughters.
Death
Dorrance died on September 21, 1930, of heart disease at his home in Cinnaminson Township, New Jersey.[2] He was interred in West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.[6] His estate in Radnor Township, Pennsylvania is now the home of Cabrini University.[citation needed]
Following Dorrance’s death, there was significant litigation over his domicile for purposes of estate and inheritance tax. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania held that he was domiciled in Pennsylvania, and the Supreme Court of New Jersey held that he was domiciled in New Jersey, and his estate was required to pay estate tax to both states. The estate sought relief in the United States Supreme Court, but the request for review was denied.[7]
Legacy
In 2012, Dorrance was elected into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.[8]
See also
References
Citations
- ^ a b c d “DR. DORRANCE DEAD; FOOD FIRM’S HEAD; Founder of the Campbell Company and Originator of Canned Soup Industry, EDUCATED AS A CHEMIST Rejected Offers From Three Universities and a College to Join Their Faculties. Worked in Paris Restaurants. Director in Many Corporations”. www.nytimes.com. The New York Times. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
- ^ “History of the Campbell Soup Company”. Archived from the original on July 16, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
- ^ “Dr. John Thompson Dorrance”. remembermyjourney.com. webCemeteries. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
- ^ See in re Dorrance’s Estate, 309 Pa. 151, 163 A. 303 (1932), cert. denied, 288 U.S. 617 (1933); see also, In re Estate of Dorrance, 115 N.J. Eq. 268, 170 A. 601 (1934).
- ^ “The Star-Ledger“.
Sources
External links
