Profile of the Day: King C. Gillette

Posted January 5, 2023 by Amanda | No Comment

On this day in 1855, American inventor King C. Gillette was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. As the inventor of the best selling version of the safety razor, Gillette’s name is still synonymous with razor blades to this day.

Image: King C. Gillette / Library of Congress

Raised in Chicago, Illinois, Gillette and his family had survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, but lost most of their possessions. To help his family, Gillette became a traveling salesman. It was during this time that he began to develop the idea of creating a disposable blade. Although safety razors had been developed in the mid-19th century, they still required a forged blade. Gillette’s innovation of a thin, inexpensive, and disposable blade of stamped steel made it easy to mass produce the blades.

In 1901, Gillette formed the American Safety Razor Company, soon after renamed the Gillette Safety Razor Company. Production began in 1903 and the company became a big success. Gillette became a household name with his portrait and signature featured on the packaging.

Gillette died on July 9, 1932 at the age of 77.

Are you related to King C. Gillette? Explore his family tree and discover your connection to the razor blade innovator!