The establishment of the Badische Anilin- & Soda-Fabrik, known as BASF, on 6 April 1865 followed a refusal by the Mannheim town council to sell land for industrial expansion. Friedrich Engelhorn, a former goldsmith who turned to chemical manufacturing, secured a site in Ludwigshafen the very next day, setting a new course for synthetic dyestuff production.
Early Career and Gasworks
Born on 17 July 1821 in Mannheim, Engelhorn was the son of a pub owner and head brewer. After attending the local lyceum for four years, he completed a three-year apprenticeship as a goldsmith. He travelled as a wandering journeyman through cities including Mainz, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Geneva, Lyon, and Paris before returning to his hometown to open a shop. The economic disruptions of the 1848 revolution compromised his business, prompting him to pivot into gas lighting. He partnered with others to form a private gasworks in Mannheim, and by December 1851, he had assumed the role of manager for a new public gasworks facility.
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Take the IQ test →The Rise of BASF
The transition into the chemical industry occurred after William Henry Perkin discovered a process for creating synthetic organic dyes from aniline in 1856. Engelhorn identified a commercial opportunity to process coal tar, a byproduct of his gas manufacture. He opened an aniline factory in 1861, which began producing fuchsin. By 1865, he sought to scale operations and co-founded BASF. The company expanded rapidly, employing over 300 workers within two years.
Scientific Research and Transition
Engelhorn prioritised formal laboratory research, appointing Heinrich Caro as the head of the company laboratory in 1868. This research initiative led to the discovery of alizarin, the first synthetic dyestuff, which was successfully patented in Prussia, France, and England in 1869 in collaboration with professors Carl Graebe and Carl Liebermann. In 1884, internal disagreements with partners led him to move to the supervisory board before he eventually left the company. He had previously acquired the medical firm Boehringer und Söhne in 1883 and participated on the boards of other enterprises, such as the Deutsche Zelluloidfabrik in Eilenburg.
Fast facts
- Born: 17 July 1821, Mannheim
- Died: 11 March 1902, Mannheim
- Citizenship: Grand Duchy of Baden
- Primary Occupation: Entrepreneur
- BASF Founding Date: 6 April 1865
- 1957 Landmark: Engelhorn high-rise, Ludwigshafen
- Religious Affiliation: Christian
Questions readers ask
How did Engelhorn first enter the gas industry?
After his goldsmith shop struggled during the 1848 revolution, he co-founded a private gasworks to supply bottled gas for lighting workshops and pubs.
What significant chemical discovery occurred under his leadership?
He oversaw the discovery and patenting of alizarin, the first synthetic dyestuff, in 1869.
What happened to the firm he bought in 1883?
He purchased the medical firm Boehringer und Söhne in Mannheim, where his oldest son became the factory head.
