Edward Packard (businessman)
Encyclopedia
Sir Edward Packard was an English
businessman. He developed Packard and James Fison (Thetford) Limited ('Fisons
') into one of the largest fertiliser
manufacturing businesses in the United Kingdom
.
in Suffolk
, the son of Edward Packard. He was educated at King's College, London and the Royal Agricultural College
at Cirencester
.
in 1866. In 1872 he patented a new type of highly concentrate
d superphosphate. He went on to develop Edward Packard & Co. as a leading fertiliser manufacturer.
Packard was influential in attempts to rationalise
the fertiliser industry in the 1880s, and in attempts to impose higher quality standards.
In 1919 Packard oversaw negotiations leading to the merger of his business with James Fison (Thetford) Ltd ultimately leading to the formation of Packard and James Fison (Thetford) Ltd ('Fisons
') of which he became Chairman.
Packard was knighted in 1922 and died at his home in Bramford
in 1932.
Packard founded the Ipswich Arts Society in 1874.
Packard served as a High Steward of Ipswich, Chairman of the Harwich Harbour Board; President of the SFK Chamber of Agriculture, Chairman of the Ipswich Museum & Free Library Committee, and Chairman of the Ipswich School of Arts.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
businessman. He developed Packard and James Fison (Thetford) Limited ('Fisons
Fisons
Fisons plc was a leading British pharmaceutical, scientific instrument and horticultural chemical manufacturer. The Company was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but it was acquired by Rhone-Poulenc in 1995....
') into one of the largest fertiliser
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. A recent assessment found that about 40 to 60% of crop yields are attributable to commercial fertilizer use...
manufacturing businesses in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Early life
Edward Packard was born at SaxmundhamSaxmundham
Saxmundham is a small market town in Suffolk, England. It is set in the valley of the River Fromus, a tributary of the River Alde, approximately northeast of Ipswich and west of the coast at Sizewell. The town is bypassed by the A12 and is served by Saxmundham railway station on the East Suffolk...
in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, the son of Edward Packard. He was educated at King's College, London and the Royal Agricultural College
Royal Agricultural College
The Royal Agricultural College is a higher education institution located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, UK. Established in 1845, it was the first agricultural college in the English speaking world...
at Cirencester
Cirencester
Cirencester is a market town in east Gloucestershire, England, 93 miles west northwest of London. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames, and is the largest town in the Cotswold District. It is the home of the Royal Agricultural College, the oldest agricultural...
.
Career
Packard joined his father in business as a dispensing chemist at BramfordBramford
Bramford is a medium-sized village, three miles west of Ipswich, Suffolk, in the Mid Suffolk administrative district. Recorded in the Domesday Book as "Brunfort" or "Branfort". The River Gipping , runs at the bottom of the village and was a busy navigable waterway during the 19th century...
in 1866. In 1872 he patented a new type of highly concentrate
Concentrate
A concentrate is a form of substance which has had the majority of its base component removed. Typically this will be the removal of water from a solution or suspension such as the removal of water from fruit juice...
d superphosphate. He went on to develop Edward Packard & Co. as a leading fertiliser manufacturer.
Packard was influential in attempts to rationalise
Rationalization (economics)
In economics, rationalization is an attempt to change a pre-existing ad hoc workflow into one that is based on a set of published rules. There is a tendency in modern times to quantify experience, knowledge, and work. Means-end rationality is used to precisely calculate that which is necessary to...
the fertiliser industry in the 1880s, and in attempts to impose higher quality standards.
In 1919 Packard oversaw negotiations leading to the merger of his business with James Fison (Thetford) Ltd ultimately leading to the formation of Packard and James Fison (Thetford) Ltd ('Fisons
Fisons
Fisons plc was a leading British pharmaceutical, scientific instrument and horticultural chemical manufacturer. The Company was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but it was acquired by Rhone-Poulenc in 1995....
') of which he became Chairman.
Packard was knighted in 1922 and died at his home in Bramford
Bramford
Bramford is a medium-sized village, three miles west of Ipswich, Suffolk, in the Mid Suffolk administrative district. Recorded in the Domesday Book as "Brunfort" or "Branfort". The River Gipping , runs at the bottom of the village and was a busy navigable waterway during the 19th century...
in 1932.
Personal
In 1867 Packard married Ellen Turner, the daughter of Walton Turner. In 1871 they had a daughter, Edith Celia Packard (Mrs Alfred Farrar). She died in 1962.Packard founded the Ipswich Arts Society in 1874.
Packard served as a High Steward of Ipswich, Chairman of the Harwich Harbour Board; President of the SFK Chamber of Agriculture, Chairman of the Ipswich Museum & Free Library Committee, and Chairman of the Ipswich School of Arts.