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Notable people · Chemist · Businessman · Inventor

James Norris Gamble

James Norris Gamble, son of Procter & Gamble co-founder James Gamble, was the company chemist who developed Ivory soap in 1879. He was vice president of P&G, helped design the Ivorydale plant, and served as mayor of Westwood. He was born and died in Cincinnati.

At a glance

Born
1836-08-09
Died
1932-07-02
Education
Kenyon College, Gambier, OH, B.A. and M.A.
University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, chemistry study, no doctorate
Known as
Chemist, Businessman, Inventor
Organizations
Procter & Gamble

Life story

James Norris Gamble was born in Cincinnati in 1836, the son of Procter & Gamble co-founder James Gamble. He studied at Kenyon College, earning bachelor's and master's degrees, and studied chemistry at the University of Maryland.

He served in Ohio infantry during the Civil War and rose to captain. At P&G he was the company chemist who developed Ivory soap.

One story says another worker left a soap machine running too long, which made a floating soap customers liked. He became P&G vice president in 1890.

He was mayor of Westwood, served on the Cincinnati parks board and gave to the YMCA, the University of Cincinnati and Christ Hospital's research institute. He retired in 1912 and died in Cincinnati in 1932 at 95.

Timeline

  • 1836-08-09: Born (Cincinnati, OH) source
  • 1861: Leaves P&G to serve with Ohio infantry (Ohio) source
  • 1862: Marries Margaret Penrose (Cincinnati, OH) source
  • 1879: Ivory soap formulated (existing record) (Cincinnati, OH) source
  • 1890: Becomes P&G vice president (Cincinnati, OH) source
  • 1912: Retires from P&G (Cincinnati, OH) source
  • 1932-07-02: Dies (Cincinnati, OH) source

What James is known for

  • Developed Ivory soap (1879)
  • Ivory soap formula

Inventions and firsts

All Ohio inventions and firsts

Honors and things named for them

  • Captain, Ohio Infantry
  • Mayor of Westwood, Ohio
  • Cincinnati Board of Park Commissioners

Family

  • father: James Gamble
  • mother: Elizabeth Norris Gamble
  • wife: Margaret Penrose
  • daughter: Maud
  • daughter: Olivia

Ohio places

Where James Norris Gamble was born, lived, worked and is remembered, with the ZIP code, town and county pages for each.

Myths and corrections

  • The story that Ivory floats because of an accident is told as fact in one source, but a 2004 Procter & Gamble archivist finding suggests it is partly legend.

Further reading

Sources

Confidence. High: the main facts were confirmed in sources we opened.

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