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Milton Snavely Hershey (September 13, 1857 – October 13, 1945) was an American chocolatier, businessman, and philanthropist.
Trained in the confectionery business, Hershey pioneered the manufacture of caramel, using fresh milk. He launched the Lancaster Caramel Company, which achieved bulk exports, and then sold it to start a new company supplying mass-produced milk chocolate, previously a luxury good.
The first Hershey bars were sold in 1900 and proved so popular that he was able to build his own company town of Hershey, Pennsylvania. Hershey's philanthropy extended to a boarding school, originally for local orphans, but accommodating around 2,000 students as of 2016. In World War II, the company developed a special non-melting bar for troops serving overseas. The Hershey Company, known as Hershey's, is one of the world's biggest confectionery manufacturers.
Childhood & Early Life
Milton Hershey was born on September 13, 1857, in Pennsylvania, to Veronica "Fanny" Snavely Hershey and Henry Hershey. He was born in a tiny community farm where he spent most of his childhood days.
His father was kind of a dreamer who was interests more in quick-rich schemes, rather than hard work. His mother was tired of his schemes, and the couple gradually separated. His mother was quit stricte with young Milton and instilled an appreciation of hard work in him.
When Milton was 14, he dropped out of school and told his mother about the wish to start a business of his own. He started his apprenticeship with a candy maker in Lancaster. After four years, he borrowed some money from his aunt to start his own business in 1867. When Milton was 14, he dropped out of school and told his mother about the wish to start a business of his own. He started his apprenticeship with a candy maker in Lancaster. After four years, he borrowed some money from his aunt to start his own business in 1867.
He was a hard-working person, but his candy making business was not getting any success. He shifted to Denver for a short period of time and started to work with a confectioner. Here he learnt the trick of making caramel with fresh milk. Milton started a business in New York too, but it too was not quite successful.
As Milton returned to Lancaster, he again tried his hand at caramel business, and this time it was a hit. He established the Lancaster Caramel Company, which soon became a household name in caramel business. It was so successful that he started shipping products in Europe and US. He employed almost 14,000 people in his business.
