CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html><html class="tw-box-border tw-scroll-smooth tw-antialiased motion-reduce:tw-scroll-auto" lang="en" id="top"><head><meta charSet="utf-8"/><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width"/><title>History of Wellcome | Who we are | Wellcome</title><meta name="description" content="Henry Wellcome was a pharmaceutical entrepreneur. He left us three things in his will: his wealth, his collection of historical medical items, and a mission to improve health through research."/><link rel="canonical" href="https://wellcome.org/who-we-are/history-wellcome"/><script type="application/ld+json">{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Who we are","item":"https://wellcome.org/who-we-are"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"History wellcome","item":"https://wellcome.org/who-we-are/history-wellcome"}] }</script><meta property="og:site_name" content="Wellcome"/><meta property="og:title" content="History of Wellcome | Who we are | Wellcome"/><meta property="og:description" content="Henry Wellcome was a pharmaceutical entrepreneur. He left us three things in his will: his wealth, his collection of historical medical items, and a mission to improve health through research."/><meta property="og:type" content="website"/><meta property="og:image" content="https://cms.wellcome.org/sites/default/files/styles/image_full/public/2021-03/history-of-wellcome-listing.jpeg?itok=YwYrER5A" itemProp="image"/><meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/><meta name="twitter:title" content="History of Wellcome | Who we are | Wellcome"/><meta name="twitter:description" content="Henry Wellcome was a pharmaceutical entrepreneur. He left us three things in his will: his wealth, his collection of historical medical items, and a mission to improve health through research."/><meta name="twitter:site" content="@wellcometrust"/><meta name="twitter:creator" content="@wellcometrust"/><meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cms.wellcome.org/sites/default/files/styles/image_full/public/2021-03/history-of-wellcome-listing.jpeg?itok=YwYrER5A"/><link rel="preload" as="image" imageSrcSet="/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fbanner_hi%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fhistory-of-wellcome-banner-1600.jpg%3Fh%3D4b4500e4%26itok%3DcMmQ-DEO&w=640&q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fbanner_hi%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fhistory-of-wellcome-banner-1600.jpg%3Fh%3D4b4500e4%26itok%3DcMmQ-DEO&w=750&q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fbanner_hi%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fhistory-of-wellcome-banner-1600.jpg%3Fh%3D4b4500e4%26itok%3DcMmQ-DEO&w=828&q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fbanner_hi%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fhistory-of-wellcome-banner-1600.jpg%3Fh%3D4b4500e4%26itok%3DcMmQ-DEO&w=1024&q=75 1024w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fbanner_hi%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fhistory-of-wellcome-banner-1600.jpg%3Fh%3D4b4500e4%26itok%3DcMmQ-DEO&w=1200&q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fbanner_hi%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fhistory-of-wellcome-banner-1600.jpg%3Fh%3D4b4500e4%26itok%3DcMmQ-DEO&w=1920&q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fbanner_hi%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fhistory-of-wellcome-banner-1600.jpg%3Fh%3D4b4500e4%26itok%3DcMmQ-DEO&w=2048&q=75 2048w" imageSizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"/><meta name="next-head-count" content="18"/><meta property="fb:pages" content="183578656917"/><link rel="shortcut icon" href="/icons/favicon.ico"/><script>window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('consent', 'default', { 'ad_storage': 'denied', 'ad_user_data': 'denied', 'ad_personalization': 'denied', 'analytics_storage': 'denied' }); </script><link rel="preload" href="/_next/static/css/2a6615a9787fc702.css" as="style"/><link rel="stylesheet" href="/_next/static/css/2a6615a9787fc702.css" data-n-g=""/><noscript data-n-css=""></noscript><script defer="" nomodule="" src="/_next/static/chunks/polyfills-78c92fac7aa8fdd8.js"></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/webpack-85564f49511e9333.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/framework-e952fed463eb8e34.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/main-161a524a96721cd9.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/pages/_app-afa36999b8c3d327.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/796-12251caaffd09c8c.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/452-0286305da3e6e592.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/764-46ea3261e24b3301.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/675-e8c176156ff3743c.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/154-9ec2729e490bba6e.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/877-b014744e32bb79cf.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/791-f1d485a976fefefc.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/84-edbbb098c3ebb7a2.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/25-e7625b30cc2e2d3f.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/438-30a58e692c2e18a7.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/565-1fca069605b19ab2.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/559-b3f200c40a21044a.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/494-b3f2c6b2cdb45cb8.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/924-d7f00cb4a27f6900.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/724-f2e9747d1f879713.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/pages/%5B...id%5D-98a75917729e6866.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/zGnw8mGIAnxtUK65XkF5c/_buildManifest.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/zGnw8mGIAnxtUK65XkF5c/_ssgManifest.js" defer=""></script></head><body class="tw-overscroll-none tw-transition-transform"><div id="__next"><div class="c-app tw-bg-body tw-font-primary tw-tracking-body tw-leading-body tw-text-body tw-text-[100%] u-preload"><a aria-hidden="false" class="c-skip-link c-skip-link--float" href="#main">Skip to main content</a><div aria-hidden="false"></div><div class="o-ie">This website will not work correctly in Internet Explorer 11 and it is strongly recommended that you upgrade to an up-to-date browser. Internet Explorer 11 will go out of support and be retired on June 15, 2022. For more information on upgrading please see <a href="http://browser-update.org/update.html?force_outdated=true">browser-update.org</a>.</div><div class=""><header class="c-site-header o-app"><div aria-hidden="true" class="c-site-alert"><div class="c-site-alert__container"><a class="c-site-alert__link o-animated-link-nested" href="https://wellcomecollection.org/?utm_source=wellcome&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=.ac.uk&utm_content=trusthomepage-text-banner"><span class="o-animated-link-nested__child">Looking for Wellcome Collection?</span><span class="ds-icon" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M2 12c0-.508.413-.92.923-.92h15.662l-2.706-2.489a.881.881 0 0 1-.05-1.25l.078-.077a1.004 1.004 0 0 1 1.357 0l4.272 3.928.024.024a.92.92 0 0 1 .099 1.498l-.098.07-4.297 3.952c-.351.323-.877.35-1.257.08l-.128-.107a.881.881 0 0 1-.05-1.25l.05-.05 2.706-2.489H2.923A.921.921 0 0 1 2 12z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></span></a><button class="c-site-alert__btn-close" type="button"><span class="ds-btn__text">Close<span class="tw-sr-only"> Looking for Wellcome Collection? banner</span></span><span class="ds-icon ds-btn__icon ds-btn__icon--right" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M16.95 7.05a1 1 0 0 1 0 1.414L13.414 12l3.536 3.536a1 1 0 0 1-1.414 1.414L12 13.414 8.464 16.95a1 1 0 0 1-1.414-1.414L10.586 12 7.05 8.464A1 1 0 0 1 8.464 7.05L12 10.586l3.536-3.536a1 1 0 0 1 1.414 0z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></span></button></div></div><div class="o-container"><a class="tw-text-black active:tw-text-black focus:tw-text-black hover:tw-text-black c-site-header__logo-wrapper" href="/" aria-hidden="false"><svg aria-labelledby="site-header-logo" class="c-site-header__logo tw-block" preserveAspectRatio="xMinYMid" role="img" viewBox="0 0 80 80"><title id="site-header-logo">Wellcome home</title><path d="M27.68 67.106c-.22.334-.687.493-1.103.493-.828 0-1.28-.574-1.348-1.397h4.73v.904h-2.28zm-1.129-3.457c.741 0 1.221.533 1.221 1.225h-2.53c.128-.801.581-1.225 1.31-1.225zm3.408.733C29.499 62.847 28.367 62 26.435 62c-1.492 0-2.628.757-3.204 1.873l.528-1.7h-2.65l-.945 4.294h-.052l-.91-4.293h-2.387l-.859 4.293h-.038l-1.013-4.293h-2.647l2.102 6.901h2.61l1.012-4.269h.037l.987 4.27h2.61l1.239-3.99a4.089 4.089 0 0 0-.043.559c0 2.299 1.587 3.603 3.74 3.603 1.481 0 2.819-.614 3.407-1.932v1.76h2.53V59.58h-2.53v4.802zm34.586-.733c.74 0 1.217.533 1.217 1.225h-2.529c.131-.801.586-1.225 1.312-1.225zm.026 3.95c-.833 0-1.284-.574-1.349-1.397h4.97C68.18 63.529 67.025 62 64.429 62c-1.806 0-3.09 1.11-3.488 2.623v-.294c0-1.119-.583-2.329-2.3-2.329-.996 0-1.61.358-1.96.703-.036.042-.076.082-.102.12-.13.136-.195.228-.247.281-.323-.718-1.104-1.104-1.817-1.104-.933 0-1.687.293-2.218 1.104h-.04v-.93h-2.454v6.901h2.533v-3.737c0-.731.22-1.276.895-1.276.818 0 .868.624.868 1.276v3.737h2.546v-3.737c0-.731.22-1.276.893-1.276.805 0 .87.624.87 1.276v3.737h2.533v-2.362c.418 1.629 1.811 2.535 3.605 2.535 1.559 0 2.96-.677 3.492-2.142h-2.365c-.218.334-.686.493-1.101.493zm-18.441-.227c-1 0-1.143-1.01-1.143-1.755 0-.743.144-1.742 1.143-1.742.997 0 1.14.999 1.14 1.742 0 .745-.143 1.755-1.14 1.755zm-5.708-1.026c-.066.56-.414 1.026-1.077 1.026-.818 0-1.117-.637-1.117-1.743 0-.838.207-1.754 1.168-1.754.6 0 .96.4.96 1.092h2.146a4.542 4.542 0 0 0 .012 1.379h-2.092zM46.13 62c-1.89 0-3.007.952-3.45 2.23-.372-1.552-1.79-2.23-3.284-2.23-1.88 0-3.307 1.116-3.631 2.86v-5.28h-2.532v9.495h2.532v-2.603c.319 1.83 1.703 2.776 3.553 2.776 1.583 0 2.887-.786 3.37-2.219.45 1.272 1.563 2.219 3.442 2.219 2.53 0 3.672-1.715 3.672-3.63 0-1.914-1.142-3.618-3.672-3.618zm9.42-48.077l-5.331 20.253A2876.358 2876.358 0 0 0 46.01 18.32c-.815-2.968-2.79-4.394-5.705-4.394-3.155 0-5.437-.003-5.437-.003h-.025l-5.335 20.27-5.335-20.27-11.965 1.39s6.572 25.022 7.773 29.562c.768 2.906 2.309 4.87 5.246 5.667 3.037.825 9.291 2.688 9.291 2.688l5.344-20.327c1.62 6.16 2.86 10.688 3.346 12.467.726 2.659 2.472 4.352 5.51 5.245 4.11 1.208 8.823 2.615 8.823 2.615l9.992-37.99-11.984-1.317zM0 80h79.744V.256H0V80z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></a><nav aria-label="Main" class="c-site-header__container"><a aria-controls="search-pane" aria-hidden="false" class="c-site-header__btn c-site-header__btn--search md:tw-hidden" data-id="button-search-open-mobile" href="/search"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-site-header__btn-text">Search</span><span class="ds-icon ds-icon--sm" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 0 16 16"><path d="M6 0a6 6 0 0 1 4.89 9.477l4.646 4.644c.39.39.39 1.024 0 1.415-.391.39-1.024.39-1.415 0L9.477 10.89A6 6 0 1 1 6 0zm0 2C3.79 2 2 3.79 2 6s1.79 4 4 4 4-1.79 4-4-1.79-4-4-4z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></span></a><button aria-controls="main-nav" aria-hidden="false" class="c-menu-btn" data-id="button-nav-open-mobile" type="button"><span>Menu</span><span class="c-menu-btn__icon" aria-hidden="true"><span class="c-menu-btn__icon-detail"><span class="tw-sr-only">Menu icon</span></span></span></button><div aria-hidden="false" class="c-nav" id="main-nav"><div class="c-nav__mobile-header md:tw-hidden"><button class="c-site-header__btn c-site-header__btn--close md:tw-hidden" type="button" data-id="button-nav-close-mobile"><span class="ds-icon ds-btn__icon ds-btn__icon--left" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M16.95 7.05a1 1 0 0 1 0 1.414L13.414 12l3.536 3.536a1 1 0 0 1-1.414 1.414L12 13.414 8.464 16.95a1 1 0 0 1-1.414-1.414L10.586 12 7.05 8.464A1 1 0 0 1 8.464 7.05L12 10.586l3.536-3.536a1 1 0 0 1 1.414 0z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></span><span class="ds-btn__text tw-h-full"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-site-header__btn-text">Close</span><span class="tw-sr-only"> menu</span></span></button></div><nav aria-label="Primary" class="c-nav__primary"><ul class="c-nav__list tw-list-none"><li class="c-nav__item md:tw-hidden"><a class="c-nav__link" href="/"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">Home</span></a></li><li class="c-nav__item"><a class="c-nav__link" href="/grant-funding" id="07ff62b6-373d-4a11-8d12-4443a125b527"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">Grant funding</span><span class="ds-icon" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M2 12c0-.508.413-.92.923-.92h15.662l-2.706-2.489a.881.881 0 0 1-.05-1.25l.078-.077a1.004 1.004 0 0 1 1.357 0l4.272 3.928.024.024a.92.92 0 0 1 .099 1.498l-.098.07-4.297 3.952c-.351.323-.877.35-1.257.08l-.128-.107a.881.881 0 0 1-.05-1.25l.05-.05 2.706-2.489H2.923A.921.921 0 0 1 2 12z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></span></a></li><li class="c-nav__item"><a class="c-nav__link" href="/what-we-do" id="d5c8ee36-4732-4d90-bbf4-6a9314b86040"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">What we do</span><span class="ds-icon" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M2 12c0-.508.413-.92.923-.92h15.662l-2.706-2.489a.881.881 0 0 1-.05-1.25l.078-.077a1.004 1.004 0 0 1 1.357 0l4.272 3.928.024.024a.92.92 0 0 1 .099 1.498l-.098.07-4.297 3.952c-.351.323-.877.35-1.257.08l-.128-.107a.881.881 0 0 1-.05-1.25l.05-.05 2.706-2.489H2.923A.921.921 0 0 1 2 12z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></span></a></li><li class="c-nav__item"><a class="c-nav__link is-active" href="/who-we-are" id="61e155aa-f834-4a8c-8a55-1c4d28ebdc30"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">Who we are</span><span class="ds-icon" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M2 12c0-.508.413-.92.923-.92h15.662l-2.706-2.489a.881.881 0 0 1-.05-1.25l.078-.077a1.004 1.004 0 0 1 1.357 0l4.272 3.928.024.024a.92.92 0 0 1 .099 1.498l-.098.07-4.297 3.952c-.351.323-.877.35-1.257.08l-.128-.107a.881.881 0 0 1-.05-1.25l.05-.05 2.706-2.489H2.923A.921.921 0 0 1 2 12z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></span></a></li><li class="c-nav__item"><a class="c-nav__link" href="/news-and-reports" id="6276bffe-1ada-4670-987c-2a4717c5baa6"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">News and reports</span><span class="ds-icon" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M2 12c0-.508.413-.92.923-.92h15.662l-2.706-2.489a.881.881 0 0 1-.05-1.25l.078-.077a1.004 1.004 0 0 1 1.357 0l4.272 3.928.024.024a.92.92 0 0 1 .099 1.498l-.098.07-4.297 3.952c-.351.323-.877.35-1.257.08l-.128-.107a.881.881 0 0 1-.05-1.25l.05-.05 2.706-2.489H2.923A.921.921 0 0 1 2 12z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></span></a></li></ul></nav><a aria-controls="search-pane" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true" class="c-site-header__btn c-site-header__btn--search tw-hidden md:tw-flex" data-id="button-search-open-desktop" href="/search" role="button"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-site-header__btn-text">Search</span><span class="ds-icon ds-icon--sm" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 0 16 16"><path d="M6 0a6 6 0 0 1 4.89 9.477l4.646 4.644c.39.39.39 1.024 0 1.415-.391.39-1.024.39-1.415 0L9.477 10.89A6 6 0 1 1 6 0zm0 2C3.79 2 2 3.79 2 6s1.79 4 4 4 4-1.79 4-4-1.79-4-4-4z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></span></a><nav aria-label="Secondary navigation for Grant funding section" class="c-nav__secondary"><div class="c-nav__secondary-wrapper"><button class="c-site-header__btn c-site-header__btn--back md:tw-hidden" type="button" aria-label="Return to primary navigation"><span class="ds-icon ds-btn__icon ds-btn__icon--left" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M22 12a.921.921 0 0 0-.923-.92H5.415l2.706-2.489a.881.881 0 0 0 .05-1.25l-.078-.077a1.004 1.004 0 0 0-1.357 0l-4.272 3.928-.024.024a.92.92 0 0 0-.099 1.498l.098.07 4.297 3.952c.351.323.877.35 1.257.08l.128-.107a.881.881 0 0 0 .05-1.25l-.05-.05-2.706-2.489h15.662c.51 0 .923-.412.923-.92z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></span><span class="ds-btn__text"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-site-header__btn-text">Back to menu</span></span></button><ul aria-labelledby="07ff62b6-373d-4a11-8d12-4443a125b527" class="c-nav__list tw-list-none" id="menu-07ff62b6-373d-4a11-8d12-4443a125b527"><li class="c-nav__item md:tw-hidden"><a class="c-nav__link" href="/grant-funding"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">Grant funding</span></a></li><li class="c-nav__item"><a class="c-nav__link" href="/grant-funding/schemes"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">Find a funding opportunity</span></a></li><li class="c-nav__item"><a class="c-nav__link" href="/grant-funding/guidance"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">Guidance</span></a></li><li class="c-nav__item"><a class="c-nav__link" href="/grant-funding/funded-people-and-projects"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">Funded people and projects </span></a></li></ul></div></nav><nav aria-label="Secondary navigation for What we do section" class="c-nav__secondary"><div class="c-nav__secondary-wrapper"><button class="c-site-header__btn c-site-header__btn--back md:tw-hidden" type="button" aria-label="Return to primary navigation"><span class="ds-icon ds-btn__icon ds-btn__icon--left" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M22 12a.921.921 0 0 0-.923-.92H5.415l2.706-2.489a.881.881 0 0 0 .05-1.25l-.078-.077a1.004 1.004 0 0 0-1.357 0l-4.272 3.928-.024.024a.92.92 0 0 0-.099 1.498l.098.07 4.297 3.952c.351.323.877.35 1.257.08l.128-.107a.881.881 0 0 0 .05-1.25l-.05-.05-2.706-2.489h15.662c.51 0 .923-.412.923-.92z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></span><span class="ds-btn__text"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-site-header__btn-text">Back to menu</span></span></button><ul aria-labelledby="d5c8ee36-4732-4d90-bbf4-6a9314b86040" class="c-nav__list tw-list-none" id="menu-d5c8ee36-4732-4d90-bbf4-6a9314b86040"><li class="c-nav__item md:tw-hidden"><a class="c-nav__link" href="/what-we-do"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">What we do</span></a></li><li class="c-nav__item"><a class="c-nav__link" href="/what-we-do/mental-health"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">Mental health</span></a></li><li class="c-nav__item"><a class="c-nav__link" href="/what-we-do/infectious-disease"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">Infectious disease</span></a></li><li class="c-nav__item"><a class="c-nav__link" href="/what-we-do/climate-and-health"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">Climate and health</span></a></li><li class="c-nav__item"><a class="c-nav__link" href="/what-we-do/discovery-research"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">Discovery research</span></a></li><li class="c-nav__item"><a class="c-nav__link" href="/what-we-do/our-work"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">All our work</span></a></li></ul></div></nav><nav aria-label="Secondary navigation for Who we are section" class="c-nav__secondary"><div class="c-nav__secondary-wrapper"><button class="c-site-header__btn c-site-header__btn--back md:tw-hidden" type="button" aria-label="Return to primary navigation"><span class="ds-icon ds-btn__icon ds-btn__icon--left" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M22 12a.921.921 0 0 0-.923-.92H5.415l2.706-2.489a.881.881 0 0 0 .05-1.25l-.078-.077a1.004 1.004 0 0 0-1.357 0l-4.272 3.928-.024.024a.92.92 0 0 0-.099 1.498l.098.07 4.297 3.952c.351.323.877.35 1.257.08l.128-.107a.881.881 0 0 0 .05-1.25l-.05-.05-2.706-2.489h15.662c.51 0 .923-.412.923-.92z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></span><span class="ds-btn__text"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-site-header__btn-text">Back to menu</span></span></button><ul aria-labelledby="61e155aa-f834-4a8c-8a55-1c4d28ebdc30" class="c-nav__list tw-list-none" id="menu-61e155aa-f834-4a8c-8a55-1c4d28ebdc30"><li class="c-nav__item md:tw-hidden"><a class="c-nav__link is-active" href="/who-we-are"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">Who we are</span></a></li><li class="c-nav__item"><a class="c-nav__link" href="/who-we-are/strategy"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">Our strategy</span></a></li><li class="c-nav__item"><a class="c-nav__link" href="/who-we-are/teams"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">Teams</span></a></li><li class="c-nav__item"><a aria-current="true" class="c-nav__link is-active" href="/who-we-are/history-wellcome"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">Our history</span></a></li><li class="c-nav__item"><a class="c-nav__link" href="/who-we-are/investments"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">How we are funded</span></a></li><li class="c-nav__item"><a class="c-nav__link" href="/who-we-are/contact-us"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">Contact us</span></a></li></ul></div></nav><nav aria-label="Secondary navigation for News and reports section" class="c-nav__secondary"><div class="c-nav__secondary-wrapper"><button class="c-site-header__btn c-site-header__btn--back md:tw-hidden" type="button" aria-label="Return to primary navigation"><span class="ds-icon ds-btn__icon ds-btn__icon--left" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M22 12a.921.921 0 0 0-.923-.92H5.415l2.706-2.489a.881.881 0 0 0 .05-1.25l-.078-.077a1.004 1.004 0 0 0-1.357 0l-4.272 3.928-.024.024a.92.92 0 0 0-.099 1.498l.098.07 4.297 3.952c.351.323.877.35 1.257.08l.128-.107a.881.881 0 0 0 .05-1.25l-.05-.05-2.706-2.489h15.662c.51 0 .923-.412.923-.92z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></span><span class="ds-btn__text"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-site-header__btn-text">Back to menu</span></span></button><ul aria-labelledby="6276bffe-1ada-4670-987c-2a4717c5baa6" class="c-nav__list tw-list-none" id="menu-6276bffe-1ada-4670-987c-2a4717c5baa6"><li class="c-nav__item md:tw-hidden"><a class="c-nav__link" href="/news-and-reports"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">News and reports</span></a></li><li class="c-nav__item"><a class="c-nav__link" href="/news/all"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">All news</span></a></li><li class="c-nav__item"><a class="c-nav__link" href="/news/media-office"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">Media office</span></a></li><li class="c-nav__item"><a class="c-nav__link" href="/news-and-reports/reports"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">Reports</span></a></li><li class="c-nav__item"><a class="c-nav__link" href="/news-and-reports/podcast"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">Podcast</span></a></li><li class="c-nav__item"><a class="c-nav__link" href="/news-and-reports/newsletters"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-nav__link-text">Newsletters</span></a></li></ul></div></nav></div><div aria-hidden="true" class="c-search-pane" id="search-pane" role="dialog"><div class="c-search-pane__content"><div class="c-search-pane__container"><div class="c-search-pane__controls"><div class="c-search-pane__header"><button class="c-site-header__btn c-site-header__btn--close" tabindex="-1" type="button" data-id="button-search-close-desktop"><span class="ds-icon ds-btn__icon ds-btn__icon--left" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M16.95 7.05a1 1 0 0 1 0 1.414L13.414 12l3.536 3.536a1 1 0 0 1-1.414 1.414L12 13.414 8.464 16.95a1 1 0 0 1-1.414-1.414L10.586 12 7.05 8.464A1 1 0 0 1 8.464 7.05L12 10.586l3.536-3.536a1 1 0 0 1 1.414 0z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></span><span class="ds-btn__text"><span class="tw-items-center tw-flex tw-h-full tw-py-static-xxs tw-relative md:tw-py-unit before:tw-bg-amber-30 before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-h-[0.125rem] before:tw-left-0 before:tw-absolute before:tw-origin-left before:tw-transition-all before:tw-duration-300 before:tw-ease-in-out c-site-header__btn-text">Close</span><span class="tw-sr-only"> search</span></span></button></div></div><form class="c-search-pane__form" role="search" action="/search" method="GET"><label class="c-search-pane__form-label" for="search"><span class="tw-sr-only">Search</span><input class="c-search-pane__form-input u-input-outline" name="search" id="search" type="search" placeholder="Search wellcome.org" tabindex="-1"/></label><button class="ds-btn ds-btn--primary c-search-pane__form-submit" tabindex="-1" type="submit"><span class="ds-btn__text tw-sr-only md:tw-not-sr-only">Search</span><span class="ds-icon ds-btn__icon ds-btn__icon--right ds-icon--sm" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 0 16 16"><path d="M6 0a6 6 0 0 1 4.89 9.477l4.646 4.644c.39.39.39 1.024 0 1.415-.391.39-1.024.39-1.415 0L9.477 10.89A6 6 0 1 1 6 0zm0 2C3.79 2 2 3.79 2 6s1.79 4 4 4 4-1.79 4-4-1.79-4-4-4z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></span></button></form></div></div><button class="c-search-pane__overlay" disabled="" type="button" aria-hidden="true" data-id="button-search-close-mobile"><span class="ds-btn__text"><span class="tw-sr-only">Hide Search</span></span></button></div><div aria-hidden="true" class="c-nav-overlay" data-id="button-nav-close-mobile" role="button"><span class="tw-sr-only">Close search and menu</span></div></nav></div></header></div><main aria-hidden="false" class="c-main o-app" id="main" role="main"><div class="c-outer-grid md:tw-grid md:tw-w-full c-outer-grid--rows" id="content"><div class="c-outer-grid__banner"><figure class="c-image-banner"><div class="c-image-banner__image tw-h-[180px] sm:tw-h-[300px] md:tw-h-auto"><img alt="Henry Wellcome" fetchpriority="high" width="1600" height="578" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="o-image o-image--cover" style="color:transparent" sizes="100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fbanner_hi%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fhistory-of-wellcome-banner-1600.jpg%3Fh%3D4b4500e4%26itok%3DcMmQ-DEO&w=640&q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fbanner_hi%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fhistory-of-wellcome-banner-1600.jpg%3Fh%3D4b4500e4%26itok%3DcMmQ-DEO&w=750&q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fbanner_hi%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fhistory-of-wellcome-banner-1600.jpg%3Fh%3D4b4500e4%26itok%3DcMmQ-DEO&w=828&q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fbanner_hi%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fhistory-of-wellcome-banner-1600.jpg%3Fh%3D4b4500e4%26itok%3DcMmQ-DEO&w=1024&q=75 1024w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fbanner_hi%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fhistory-of-wellcome-banner-1600.jpg%3Fh%3D4b4500e4%26itok%3DcMmQ-DEO&w=1200&q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fbanner_hi%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fhistory-of-wellcome-banner-1600.jpg%3Fh%3D4b4500e4%26itok%3DcMmQ-DEO&w=1920&q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fbanner_hi%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fhistory-of-wellcome-banner-1600.jpg%3Fh%3D4b4500e4%26itok%3DcMmQ-DEO&w=2048&q=75 2048w" src="/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fbanner_hi%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fhistory-of-wellcome-banner-1600.jpg%3Fh%3D4b4500e4%26itok%3DcMmQ-DEO&w=2048&q=75"/></div></figure></div><div class="c-outer-grid__header"><header class="tw-my-static-md md:tw-my-responsive-xl"><div class="o-container tw-grid tw-grid-cols-6 sm:tw-grid-cols-12 tw-grid-rows-1 tw-gap-x-gutter print:tw-block" data-gtm="grid"><div class="tw-col-span-full tw-max-w-full md:tw-col-start-4 md:tw-col-end-10"><h1 class="tw-leading-heading tw-font-secondary tw-tracking-heading-major tw-text-heading-xl tw-mb-responsive-md after:tw-bg-amber-30 after:tw-block after:tw-h-static-xxs after:tw-w-static-xl after:tw-mt-responsive-sm print:after:tw-border-b-4 print:after:tw-border-b-amber-30">History of Wellcome</h1></div></div><div class="o-container tw-grid tw-grid-cols-6 sm:tw-grid-cols-12 tw-grid-rows-1 tw-gap-x-gutter print:tw-block" data-gtm="grid"><div class="tw-col-span-full tw-max-w-full md:tw-col-start-4 md:tw-col-end-10"><div class="c-page-header-standard__standfirst tw-text-body-lg"><div class="c-rich-text"><p>Henry Wellcome (1853-1936) was a pharmaceutical entrepreneur. He left us three things in his will: his wealth, his collection of historical medical items, and a mission to improve health through research.</p></div></div></div></div></header></div><div class="c-outer-grid__sidebar print:tw-hidden"><div class="c-page-sidebar c-page-sidebar--standard tw-relative"></div><div class="c-page-sidebar c-page-sidebar--standard c-page-sidebar--sticky"><a class="c-skip-link" href="#page-sections">Skip to contents</a><nav aria-label="On this page" class="c-inpage-nav"><h2 class="c-inpage-nav__title">On this page</h2><ul class="c-inpage-nav__list tw-list-none"><li class="c-inpage-nav__item"><a class="c-inpage-nav__link" href="#wellcome-trust--af4d"><span class="c-inpage-nav__link-text o-animated-link-nested__child">Wellcome Trust </span></a></li><li class="c-inpage-nav__item"><a class="c-inpage-nav__link" href="#wellcome-collection--e426"><span class="c-inpage-nav__link-text o-animated-link-nested__child">Wellcome Collection </span></a></li><li class="c-inpage-nav__item"><a class="c-inpage-nav__link" href="#wellcome’s-mission--0079"><span class="c-inpage-nav__link-text o-animated-link-nested__child">Wellcome’s mission </span></a></li><li class="c-inpage-nav__item"><a class="c-inpage-nav__link" href="#more-information-5e31"><span class="c-inpage-nav__link-text o-animated-link-nested__child">More information</span></a></li><li class="c-inpage-nav__item"><a class="c-inpage-nav__link c-inpage-nav__link--top" href="#top"><span class="c-inpage-nav__link-text o-animated-link-nested__child">Back to top</span><span class="ds-icon ds-btn__icon--right md:tw-hidden ds-icon--sm" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 0 16 16"><path d="M8 15c.508 0 .92-.413.92-.923V4.415l2.489 2.706a.881.881 0 0 0 1.25.05l.077-.078a1.004 1.004 0 0 0 0-1.357L8.808 1.464l-.024-.024a.92.92 0 0 0-1.498-.099l-.07.098-3.952 4.297c-.323.351-.35.877-.08 1.257l.107.128a.881.881 0 0 0 1.25.05l.05-.05L7.08 4.415v9.662c0 .51.412.923.92.923z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></span></a></li></ul></nav><div class="tw-mt-responsive-md tw-mb-responsive-md"><div class="c-social-share"><ul class="c-social-share__list tw-list-none"><li class="c-social-share__item"><a class="c-social-share__link" href="https://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://wellcome.org//who-we-are/history-wellcome&quote=History%20of%20Wellcome%250d%250a%250d%250aHenry%20Wellcome%20(1853-1936)%20was%20a%20pharmaceutical%20entrepreneur.%20He%20left%20us%20three%20things%20in%20his%20will:%20his%20wealth,%20his%20collection%20of%20historical%20medical%20items,%20and%20a%20mission%20to%20improve%20health%20through%20research.%20&utm_source=facebookShare"><span class="ds-icon c-social-share__icon" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M13.65 22V11.999h2.958L17 8.552h-3.35l.005-1.725c0-.899.091-1.38 1.475-1.38h1.85V2h-2.96c-3.554 0-4.805 1.672-4.805 4.484v2.069H7v3.446h2.215V22h4.435z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></span><span class="tw-sr-only">Share with Facebook</span></a></li><li class="c-social-share__item"><a class="c-social-share__link" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=History%20of%20Wellcome%2520%2540wellcometrust&url=https://wellcome.org//who-we-are/history-wellcome&utm_source=twitterShare"><span class="ds-icon c-social-share__icon" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M18.205 2.25h3.308l-7.227 8.26 8.502 11.24H16.13l-5.214-6.817L4.95 21.75H1.64l7.73-8.835L1.215 2.25H8.04l4.713 6.231 5.45-6.231Zm-1.161 17.52h1.833L7.045 4.126H5.078L17.044 19.77Z" fill="currentColor"></path></svg></span><span class="tw-sr-only">Share with X</span></a></li><li class="c-social-share__item"><a class="c-social-share__link" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://wellcome.org//who-we-are/history-wellcome&utm_source=linkedinShare"><span class="ds-icon c-social-share__icon" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 2 24 24"><path d="M17.064 8.879c2.821 0 4.936 1.833 4.936 5.77V22h-4.287v-6.858c0-1.723-.62-2.898-2.172-2.898-1.184 0-1.89.792-2.2 1.558-.113.274-.14.656-.14 1.04V22H8.912v-.17c.004-.69.016-3.383.022-6.116l.001-.656.001-.652v-.64l.001-.316v-.911c-.001-1.669-.008-2.994-.025-3.359H13.2v1.816c.57-.873 1.588-2.117 3.864-2.117zM6.54 9.18V22H2.253V9.18H6.54zM4.425 3c1.467 0 2.37.957 2.398 2.214 0 1.231-.931 2.216-2.426 2.216H4.37C2.93 7.43 2 6.445 2 5.214 2 3.957 2.959 3 4.425 3z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></span><span class="tw-sr-only">Share with LinkedIn</span></a></li><li class="c-social-share__item"><a class="c-social-share__link" href="mailto:?subject=Shared%2520from%2520Wellcome%253A%2520History%20of%20Wellcome&body=Henry%20Wellcome%20(1853-1936)%20was%20a%20pharmaceutical%20entrepreneur.%20He%20left%20us%20three%20things%20in%20his%20will:%20his%20wealth,%20his%20collection%20of%20historical%20medical%20items,%20and%20a%20mission%20to%20improve%20health%20through%20research.%20%250d%250a%250d%250ahttps://wellcome.org//who-we-are/history-wellcome&utm_source=emailShare%20%250A%250A---%250A%250ASign%20up%20to%20the%20Wellcome%20newsletter:%20https://wellcome.org/news-and-reports/newsletters"><span class="ds-icon c-social-share__icon" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M22 3a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v14a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H2a2 2 0 0 1-2-2V5a2 2 0 0 1 2-2h20zM2 18a1 1 0 0 0 .883.993L3 19h18a1 1 0 0 0 .993-.883L22 18V9l-8.971 5.383a2 2 0 0 1-2.058 0L2 9v9zM2 7l8.971 5.383a2 2 0 0 0 2.058 0L22 7V6a1 1 0 0 0-1-1H3a1 1 0 0 0-.993.883L2 6v1z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></span><span class="tw-sr-only">Share with Email</span></a></li></ul></div></div></div></div><div class="c-outer-grid__content c-sections-container"><div id="page-sections" class="o-scroll-offset"><section class="c-section"><div class="o-container tw-grid tw-grid-cols-6 sm:tw-grid-cols-12 tw-grid-rows-1 tw-gap-x-gutter print:tw-block" data-gtm="grid"><div class="tw-col-span-full tw-max-w-full md:tw-col-start-4 md:tw-col-end-10"><h2 class="tw-leading-heading tw-font-medium tw-tracking-heading-minor tw-text-heading-lg tw-mb-responsive-md after:tw-bg-amber-30 after:tw-block after:tw-h-static-xxs after:tw-w-static-xl after:tw-mt-responsive-sm print:after:tw-border-b-4 print:after:tw-border-b-amber-30 js-section-title tw-relative md:tw-z-med">Wellcome Trust <span id="wellcome-trust--af4d" class="c-section__title-anchor tw-invisible tw-absolute tw-left-0 tw-top-0 tw-block tall:-tw-top-site-header md:-tw-top-full-header"> </span></h2></div></div><div class="o-container tw-grid tw-grid-cols-6 sm:tw-grid-cols-12 tw-grid-rows-1 tw-gap-x-gutter print:tw-block c-grid--text" data-gtm="grid"><div class="tw-col-span-full tw-max-w-full md:tw-col-start-4 md:tw-col-end-10"><div class="c-scaffold-grid-item tw-pb-scaffold"><div class="c-text"><div class="c-rich-text"><p>The Wellcome Trust was founded in 1936, in accordance with Henry Wellcome’s will, to improve health by supporting scientific research and the study of medicine. Funding for this mission came from the profits of the pharmaceutical business he had built up over 50 years.</p> <p>In 1880, Silas Burroughs and Henry Wellcome, two pharmaceutical salesmen from America, started a new company in London called Burroughs, Wellcome & Co. They used mass production and proactive marketing to sell remedies and medicines throughout the UK and territories colonised by the British, building the company’s reputation on scientific rigour. </p> <p>Henry Wellcome became a wealthy and prominent figure in the growth of the modern pharmaceutical industry. After his death in 1936 (Silas Burroughs had died in 1895), the company became the property of the newly formed Wellcome Trust, which used the profits to fund charitable activities supporting research related to health.</p> <p>Despite financial difficulties after World War II, the business began to thrive again, pioneering a new approach to drug design. Successful products included the first leukaemia drug, immune suppressants for organ transplants, and antivirals such as AZT, the first drug approved to treat HIV.</p> <p>Towards the end of the 20th century, the Wellcome Trust decided to sell the company, which is now part of GlaxoSmithKline and no longer has any ownership or governance relationship with Wellcome. We do work with GlaxoSmithKline, as we work with many other healthcare companies, when it helps us to achieve our mission.</p> <p>The considerable proceeds from the sale gave the Wellcome Trust financial independence. Today, we invest in a wide range of financial assets around the world, and the returns from our portfolio – currently worth around £38 billion – fund everything we do.</p> <p>Find out <a href="/about-us/investments" id="" target title>how we invest responsibly</a>.</p></div></div></div></div></div><div class="o-container tw-grid tw-grid-cols-6 sm:tw-grid-cols-12 tw-grid-rows-1 tw-gap-x-gutter print:tw-block c-grid--section-info" data-gtm="grid"><div class="tw-col-span-full tw-max-w-full sm:tw-col-start-2 sm:tw-col-end-12 md:tw-col-start-4 md:tw-col-end-10"><div class="c-scaffold-grid-item tw-pb-scaffold"><div class="c-info-box c-info-box--primary"><div class="c-text-snippet"><h2 class="tw-leading-heading tw-font-medium tw-tracking-heading-minor tw-text-heading-md tw-mb-static-xs sm:tw-mb-static-md">The Wellcome name</h2><div class="c-rich-text-snippet"><ul> <li>1853: <strong>Henry Wellcome</strong> is born in the US</li> <li>1880: <strong>Burroughs, Wellcome & Co</strong> is established by Silas Burroughs and Henry Wellcome in London, UK</li> <li>1936: Henry Wellcome dies and his various interests around the world are brought together as <strong>Wellcome Foundation</strong>, owned by the <strong>Wellcome Trust</strong></li> <li>1985: Wellcome Trust sells the first shares in Wellcome Foundation, which is renamed <strong>Wellcome Plc</strong></li> <li>1995: Wellcome Plc is bought by Glaxo to form <strong>GlaxoWellcome</strong>, which later becomes GlaxoSmithKline</li> <li>1995: The Wellcome Trust – or now just <strong>Wellcome</strong> – has become an independent charitable foundation</li> <li>2007: <strong>Wellcome Collection</strong> opens in London</li> </ul></div></div></div></div></div></div></section><section class="c-section"><div class="o-container tw-grid tw-grid-cols-6 sm:tw-grid-cols-12 tw-grid-rows-1 tw-gap-x-gutter print:tw-block" data-gtm="grid"><div class="tw-col-span-full tw-max-w-full md:tw-col-start-4 md:tw-col-end-10"><h2 class="tw-leading-heading tw-font-medium tw-tracking-heading-minor tw-text-heading-lg tw-mb-responsive-md after:tw-bg-amber-30 after:tw-block after:tw-h-static-xxs after:tw-w-static-xl after:tw-mt-responsive-sm print:after:tw-border-b-4 print:after:tw-border-b-amber-30 js-section-title tw-relative md:tw-z-med">Wellcome Collection <span id="wellcome-collection--e426" class="c-section__title-anchor tw-invisible tw-absolute tw-left-0 tw-top-0 tw-block tall:-tw-top-site-header md:-tw-top-full-header"> </span></h2></div></div><div class="o-container tw-grid tw-grid-cols-6 sm:tw-grid-cols-12 tw-grid-rows-1 tw-gap-x-gutter print:tw-block c-grid--text" data-gtm="grid"><div class="tw-col-span-full tw-max-w-full md:tw-col-start-4 md:tw-col-end-10"><div class="c-scaffold-grid-item tw-pb-scaffold"><div class="c-text"><div class="c-rich-text"><p>Henry Wellcome’s collection was a vast personal project, the privilege of a wealthy white man in the Victorian era. He travelled the world (and sent others on his behalf) to acquire items relating to his interest in 'the art and science of healing throughout the ages'. Over the years, he bought millions of objects, only a fraction of which were ever displayed in his medical history exhibitions. </p> <p>This kind of collecting relied on and fuelled a market for such items that was driven by colonial activities and open to exploitative trading. Many objects were taken out of their social and cultural context and used to sustain a narrative that assumed European superiority. </p> <p>After Henry Wellcome's death, much of his collection was dispersed to other museums and collectors, though we still have thousands of objects in our care, as well as other items acquired since 1936. These form the basis of exhibitions and research at <a href="https://wellcomecollection.org/" id="" target="_self" title>Wellcome Collection</a>, our free museum and library that opened in 2007 to explore health and human experience.</p> <p>Wellcome Collection today strives to connect the objects in our collections with people whose experiences can help us to understand the meanings they hold today. Information about the actions we are taking, and the principles that guide them, is on <a href="https://wellcomecollection.org/" id="" target="_self" title>Wellcome Collection's website</a>.</p></div></div></div></div></div></section><section class="c-section"><div class="o-container tw-grid tw-grid-cols-6 sm:tw-grid-cols-12 tw-grid-rows-1 tw-gap-x-gutter print:tw-block" data-gtm="grid"><div class="tw-col-span-full tw-max-w-full md:tw-col-start-4 md:tw-col-end-10"><h2 class="tw-leading-heading tw-font-medium tw-tracking-heading-minor tw-text-heading-lg tw-mb-responsive-md after:tw-bg-amber-30 after:tw-block after:tw-h-static-xxs after:tw-w-static-xl after:tw-mt-responsive-sm print:after:tw-border-b-4 print:after:tw-border-b-amber-30 js-section-title tw-relative md:tw-z-med">Wellcome’s mission <span id="wellcome’s-mission--0079" class="c-section__title-anchor tw-invisible tw-absolute tw-left-0 tw-top-0 tw-block tall:-tw-top-site-header md:-tw-top-full-header"> </span></h2></div></div><div class="o-container tw-grid tw-grid-cols-6 sm:tw-grid-cols-12 tw-grid-rows-1 tw-gap-x-gutter print:tw-block c-grid--text" data-gtm="grid"><div class="tw-col-span-full tw-max-w-full md:tw-col-start-4 md:tw-col-end-10"><div class="c-scaffold-grid-item tw-pb-scaffold"><div class="c-text"><div class="c-rich-text"><p>Wellcome is an independent global charitable foundation dedicated to improving health through research. Although the way we deliver our mission has evolved since 1936, science has always been at the heart of it.</p> <p>For the first 30 years, a small Board of Trustees based in the UK considered all applications for funding. Grants were given to set up new laboratories and support academic posts, particularly in pharmacology and tropical medicine. Travel grants promoted collaboration between researchers in the UK and other countries, often nations where research in tropical medicine had been an aspect of British colonialism.</p> <p>In 1967, Wellcome began to focus more on supporting individual researchers rather than buildings and equipment. This meant more applications to process, and a larger staff to administer the charity’s activities. Spending continued to increase, funding more research units outside the UK as well as a number of units at UK universities to study the history of medicine.</p> <p>After the sale of the company was completed in 1995, Wellcome became one of the largest grant-giving charities in the world. As well as hugely increasing our support for individuals and research centres, we began funding projects taking scientific advances and inventions towards clinical trials, and increased our support for public engagement with science. And we were able to set up – in partnership or independently – large-scale initiatives such as the Wellcome Sanger Institute, which sequenced one-third of the Human Genome Project. </p> <p>Today, Wellcome supports science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. We have four programmes of work: one for discovery research, and three to find solutions for the challenges of mental health, climate and health, and infectious diseases.</p> <p>Read more about <a href="/who-we-are/strategy" id="" target title="Wellcome's vision and strategy">our vision and strategy</a>.</p></div></div></div></div></div></section></div></div><div class="c-outer-grid__footer"><section class="c-section"><div class="o-container tw-grid tw-grid-cols-6 sm:tw-grid-cols-12 tw-grid-rows-1 tw-gap-x-gutter print:tw-block" data-gtm="grid"><div class="tw-col-span-full tw-max-w-full md:tw-col-start-4 md:tw-col-end-10"><h2 class="tw-leading-heading tw-font-medium tw-tracking-heading-minor tw-text-heading-lg tw-mb-responsive-md after:tw-bg-amber-30 after:tw-block after:tw-h-static-xxs after:tw-w-static-xl after:tw-mt-responsive-sm print:after:tw-border-b-4 print:after:tw-border-b-amber-30 js-section-title tw-relative md:tw-z-med">More information<span id="more-information-5e31" class="c-section__title-anchor tw-invisible tw-absolute tw-left-0 tw-top-0 tw-block tall:-tw-top-site-header md:-tw-top-full-header"> </span></h2></div></div><div class="o-container tw-grid tw-grid-cols-6 sm:tw-grid-cols-12 tw-grid-rows-1 tw-gap-x-gutter print:tw-block c-grid--horizontal-card" data-gtm="grid"><div class="tw-col-span-full tw-max-w-full sm:tw-col-start-2 sm:tw-col-end-12 md:tw-col-span-full"><div class="c-scaffold-grid-item tw-pb-scaffold _u-safari-force-sticky-zindex u-sticky-fade"><div class="c-card-listing c-card-listing--horizontal"><article class="c-image-card c-image-card--standard" itemscope="" itemType="https://schema.org/Article"><div class="c-image-card__figure"><figure class="c-image-card__image"><img alt="" itemProp="image" loading="lazy" width="420" height="280" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="o-image o-image--responsive" style="color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1500px) 420px, (min-width: 1024px) calc(30vw - 40px), (min-width: 768px) 25vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2022-10%2FWellcome-logo-listing-image-09.png%3Fitok%3DK7k2SmUI&w=256&q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2022-10%2FWellcome-logo-listing-image-09.png%3Fitok%3DK7k2SmUI&w=384&q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2022-10%2FWellcome-logo-listing-image-09.png%3Fitok%3DK7k2SmUI&w=640&q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2022-10%2FWellcome-logo-listing-image-09.png%3Fitok%3DK7k2SmUI&w=750&q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2022-10%2FWellcome-logo-listing-image-09.png%3Fitok%3DK7k2SmUI&w=828&q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2022-10%2FWellcome-logo-listing-image-09.png%3Fitok%3DK7k2SmUI&w=1024&q=75 1024w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2022-10%2FWellcome-logo-listing-image-09.png%3Fitok%3DK7k2SmUI&w=1200&q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2022-10%2FWellcome-logo-listing-image-09.png%3Fitok%3DK7k2SmUI&w=1920&q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2022-10%2FWellcome-logo-listing-image-09.png%3Fitok%3DK7k2SmUI&w=2048&q=75 2048w" src="/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2022-10%2FWellcome-logo-listing-image-09.png%3Fitok%3DK7k2SmUI&w=2048&q=75"/></figure></div><div class="c-image-card__body"><h3 class="c-image-card__title" itemProp="name"><a class="before:tw-absolute before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-left-0 before:tw-right-0 before:tw-top-0 before:tw-z-low c-image-card__link o-animated-link" href="/who-we-are/strategy">Wellcome's vision and strategy</a></h3></div></article><article class="c-image-card c-image-card--standard" itemscope="" itemType="https://schema.org/Article"><div class="c-image-card__figure"><figure class="c-image-card__image"><img alt="" itemProp="image" loading="lazy" width="420" height="280" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="o-image o-image--responsive" style="color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1500px) 420px, (min-width: 1024px) calc(30vw - 40px), (min-width: 768px) 25vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2022-07%2FC0105191_Medium.jpg%3Fitok%3DfZz9DTYo&w=256&q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2022-07%2FC0105191_Medium.jpg%3Fitok%3DfZz9DTYo&w=384&q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2022-07%2FC0105191_Medium.jpg%3Fitok%3DfZz9DTYo&w=640&q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2022-07%2FC0105191_Medium.jpg%3Fitok%3DfZz9DTYo&w=750&q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2022-07%2FC0105191_Medium.jpg%3Fitok%3DfZz9DTYo&w=828&q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2022-07%2FC0105191_Medium.jpg%3Fitok%3DfZz9DTYo&w=1024&q=75 1024w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2022-07%2FC0105191_Medium.jpg%3Fitok%3DfZz9DTYo&w=1200&q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2022-07%2FC0105191_Medium.jpg%3Fitok%3DfZz9DTYo&w=1920&q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2022-07%2FC0105191_Medium.jpg%3Fitok%3DfZz9DTYo&w=2048&q=75 2048w" src="/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2022-07%2FC0105191_Medium.jpg%3Fitok%3DfZz9DTYo&w=2048&q=75"/></figure></div><div class="c-image-card__body"><h3 class="c-image-card__title" itemProp="name"><a class="before:tw-absolute before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-left-0 before:tw-right-0 before:tw-top-0 before:tw-z-low c-image-card__link o-animated-link" href="/who-we-are">Who we are</a></h3></div></article><article class="c-image-card c-image-card--standard" itemscope="" itemType="https://schema.org/Article"><div class="c-image-card__figure"><figure class="c-image-card__image"><img alt="" itemProp="image" loading="lazy" width="420" height="280" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="o-image o-image--responsive" style="color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1500px) 420px, (min-width: 1024px) calc(30vw - 40px), (min-width: 768px) 25vw, 100vw" srcSet="/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fwellcome-collection-listing-image.jpg%3Fitok%3D1H92i67I&w=256&q=75 256w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fwellcome-collection-listing-image.jpg%3Fitok%3D1H92i67I&w=384&q=75 384w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fwellcome-collection-listing-image.jpg%3Fitok%3D1H92i67I&w=640&q=75 640w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fwellcome-collection-listing-image.jpg%3Fitok%3D1H92i67I&w=750&q=75 750w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fwellcome-collection-listing-image.jpg%3Fitok%3D1H92i67I&w=828&q=75 828w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fwellcome-collection-listing-image.jpg%3Fitok%3D1H92i67I&w=1024&q=75 1024w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fwellcome-collection-listing-image.jpg%3Fitok%3D1H92i67I&w=1200&q=75 1200w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fwellcome-collection-listing-image.jpg%3Fitok%3D1H92i67I&w=1920&q=75 1920w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fwellcome-collection-listing-image.jpg%3Fitok%3D1H92i67I&w=2048&q=75 2048w" src="/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcms.wellcome.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fimage_card%2Fpublic%2F2020-10%2Fwellcome-collection-listing-image.jpg%3Fitok%3D1H92i67I&w=2048&q=75"/></figure></div><div class="c-image-card__body"><h3 class="c-image-card__title" itemProp="name"><a class="before:tw-absolute before:tw-bottom-0 before:tw-left-0 before:tw-right-0 before:tw-top-0 before:tw-z-low c-image-card__link o-animated-link" href="https://wellcomecollection.org/">Wellcome Collection</a></h3></div></article></div></div></div></div></section><section class="c-section c-newsletter-signup c-newsletter-signup--footer"><div class="o-container tw-grid tw-grid-cols-6 sm:tw-grid-cols-12 tw-grid-rows-1 tw-gap-x-gutter print:tw-block" data-gtm="grid"><div class="tw-col-span-full tw-max-w-full md:tw-col-start-4 md:tw-col-end-10"><h2 class="tw-leading-heading tw-font-medium tw-tracking-heading-minor tw-text-heading-lg tw-mb-responsive-md after:tw-bg-amber-30 after:tw-block after:tw-h-static-xxs after:tw-w-static-xl after:tw-mt-responsive-sm print:after:tw-border-b-4 print:after:tw-border-b-amber-30 js-section-title tw-relative md:tw-z-med c-newsletter-signup__title">Sign up to our monthly newsletter</h2><h3 class="tw-hidden" tabindex="-1">Thank you</h3><div role="status"></div><div class="c-rich-text c-newsletter-signup__intro"><p>Stay up to date with some of the biggest stories in global health, and how we're advocating to improve health for everyone.</p></div><form action="https://cms.wellcome.org/api/newsletter/signup" class="c-newsletter__form" data-type="monthly" method="POST" novalidate=""><fieldset class="c-form-fieldset c-newsletter-form tw-mb-0"><legend class="c-form-legend tw-sr-only">Sign up to our monthly newsletter</legend><div class="c-form-field c-newsletter__item"><label class="c-label c-newsletter__label" for="subscriberFirstName">Your first name</label><input aria-invalid="false" aria-required="true" autoComplete="given-name" class="c-text-input u-input-outline" id="subscriberFirstName" name="subscriberFirstName" spellcheck="false" type="text"/></div><div class="c-form-field c-newsletter__item"><label class="c-label c-newsletter__label" for="subscriberLastName">Your last name</label><input aria-invalid="false" aria-required="true" autoComplete="family-name" class="c-text-input u-input-outline" id="subscriberLastName" name="subscriberLastName" spellcheck="false" type="text"/></div><div class="c-form-field c-newsletter__item"><label class="c-label c-newsletter__label" for="subscriberEmailAddress">Your email address</label><input aria-invalid="false" aria-required="true" autoComplete="email" class="c-text-input u-input-outline" id="subscriberEmailAddress" name="subscriberEmailAddress" spellcheck="false" type="email"/></div><fieldset class="c-form-fieldset tw-mb-0"><legend class="c-form-legend tw-mb-responsive-sm tw-font-bold">Interested in more updates?</legend><div class="c-rich-text tw-mb-responsive-sm tw-text-body-sm"><p>Learn about <a class="o-animated-link" href="/news-and-reports/newsletters">all our newsletters and subscribe</a>.</p></div><div class="tw-mb-responsive-md tw-text-body-xs"><div class="c-checkbox"><input class="c-checkbox__input" id="subscriberMarketingPermission" name="subscriberMarketingPermission" type="checkbox"/><label class="c-label c-checkbox__label" for="subscriberMarketingPermission">Tick this box if you're happy to receive other emails about Wellcome news, upcoming events and/or funding opportunities.</label><span aria-hidden="true" class="ds-icon c-checkbox__icon"><svg viewBox="0 0 42 33"><path fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M13.855 32.205a2.487 2.487 0 0 0 1.819.756c.704 0 1.315-.252 1.819-.756L41.238 8.464c.508-.498.76-1.109.76-1.818a2.53 2.53 0 0 0-.751-1.828l-3.106-3.1c-.509-.499-1.11-.76-1.824-.76-.713 0-1.315.256-1.823.765L15.65 20.559l-8.152-8.146a2.486 2.486 0 0 0-1.819-.759 2.49 2.49 0 0 0-1.819.759L.753 15.514a2.492 2.492 0 0 0-.76 1.828c0 .708.257 1.305.76 1.823l13.078 13.064"></path></svg></span></div></div><div class="c-rich-text tw-mb-responsive-sm tw-text-body-xs"><p>By clicking subscribe, you agree to receive this newsletter. You can unsubscribe any time. For information about how we handle your data, <a class="o-animated-link" href="/who-we-are/privacy-and-terms">please read our privacy notice</a>.</p></div><button class="ds-btn ds-btn--primary" type="submit"><span class="ds-btn__text">Subscribe to newsletter</span></button></fieldset><div role="status"></div></fieldset></form></div></div></section></div></div></main><div aria-hidden="false"><footer class="c-site-footer o-app"><div class="o-container"><div class="tw-text-body-sm"><div class="c-site-footer-nav__grid"><div class="c-site-footer-nav__grid-item"><h2 class="c-site-footer-nav__title"><a class="o-animated-link tw-inline-block" href="/grant-funding">Grant funding</a></h2><ul class="tw-list-none"><li class="tw-mb-responsive-sm"><a class="o-animated-link tw-text-body-sm" href="/grant-funding/schemes">Find a funding opportunity</a></li><li class="tw-mb-responsive-sm"><a class="o-animated-link tw-text-body-sm" href="/grant-funding/guidance">Guidance</a></li><li class="tw-mb-responsive-sm"><a class="o-animated-link tw-text-body-sm" href="/grant-funding/funded-people-and-projects">Funded people and projects</a></li></ul></div><div class="c-site-footer-nav__grid-item"><h2 class="c-site-footer-nav__title"><a class="o-animated-link tw-inline-block" href="/what-we-do">What we do</a></h2><ul class="tw-list-none"><li class="tw-mb-responsive-sm"><a class="o-animated-link tw-text-body-sm" href="/what-we-do/mental-health">Mental health</a></li><li class="tw-mb-responsive-sm"><a class="o-animated-link tw-text-body-sm" href="/what-we-do/infectious-disease">Infectious disease</a></li><li class="tw-mb-responsive-sm"><a class="o-animated-link tw-text-body-sm" href="/what-we-do/climate-and-health">Climate and health</a></li><li class="tw-mb-responsive-sm"><a class="o-animated-link tw-text-body-sm" href="/what-we-do/discovery-research">Discovery research</a></li><li class="tw-mb-responsive-sm"><a class="o-animated-link tw-text-body-sm" href="/what-we-do/wellcome-collection">Wellcome Collection</a></li><li class="tw-mb-responsive-sm"><a class="o-animated-link tw-text-body-sm" href="/what-we-do/our-work">All our work</a></li></ul></div><div class="c-site-footer-nav__grid-item"><h2 class="c-site-footer-nav__title"><a class="o-animated-link tw-inline-block" href="/who-we-are">Who we are</a></h2><ul class="tw-list-none"><li class="tw-mb-responsive-sm"><a class="o-animated-link tw-text-body-sm" href="/jobs">Jobs</a></li><li class="tw-mb-responsive-sm"><a class="o-animated-link tw-text-body-sm" href="/who-we-are/strategy">Our strategy</a></li><li class="tw-mb-responsive-sm"><a class="o-animated-link tw-text-body-sm" href="/who-we-are/teams">Teams</a></li><li class="tw-mb-responsive-sm"><a class="o-animated-link tw-text-body-sm" href="/who-we-are/history-wellcome">Our history</a></li><li class="tw-mb-responsive-sm"><a class="o-animated-link tw-text-body-sm" href="/who-we-are/investments">How we are funded</a></li><li class="tw-mb-responsive-sm"><a class="o-animated-link tw-text-body-sm" href="/who-we-are/contact-us">Contact us</a></li></ul></div><div class="c-site-footer-nav__grid-item"><h2 class="c-site-footer-nav__title"><a class="o-animated-link tw-inline-block" href="/news-and-reports">News and reports</a></h2><ul class="tw-list-none"><li class="tw-mb-responsive-sm"><a class="o-animated-link tw-text-body-sm" href="/news/all">All news</a></li><li class="tw-mb-responsive-sm"><a class="o-animated-link tw-text-body-sm" href="/news/media-office">Media office</a></li><li class="tw-mb-responsive-sm"><a class="o-animated-link tw-text-body-sm" href="/news-and-reports/reports">Reports</a></li><li class="tw-mb-responsive-sm"><a class="o-animated-link tw-text-body-sm" href="/news-and-reports/podcast">Podcast</a></li><li class="tw-mb-responsive-sm"><a class="o-animated-link tw-text-body-sm" href="/news-and-reports/newsletters">Newsletters</a></li></ul></div></div></div><div class="c-site-footer__meta"><h2 class="tw-sr-only">Support links</h2><a class="" href="/"><svg aria-labelledby="site-footer-logo" class="c-site-footer__logo tw-block" preserveAspectRatio="xMinYMid" role="img" viewBox="0 0 60 60"><title id="site-footer-logo">Wellcome home</title><path d="M0 0h60v60H0V0zm44.046 47.412l7.996-30.402-9.59-1.055-4.267 16.209a2252.888 2252.888 0 0 0-3.368-12.69c-.651-2.375-2.233-3.516-4.565-3.516-2.525 0-4.351-.003-4.351-.003h-.02l-4.27 16.222-4.269-16.222-9.575 1.113s5.259 20.024 6.22 23.657c.615 2.326 1.847 3.899 4.198 4.536 2.43.66 7.436 2.15 7.436 2.15l4.276-16.266c1.297 4.93 2.29 8.553 2.678 9.977.58 2.128 1.978 3.482 4.41 4.198 3.289.967 7.06 2.092 7.06 2.092z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></a><div class="c-site-footer-links"><a class="c-site-footer-links__item o-animated-link" href="https://funding.wellcome.org">Wellcome Funding<span aria-hidden="true" class="c-site-footer-links__flag"></span></a><a class="c-site-footer-links__item o-animated-link" href="/jobs">Jobs<span aria-hidden="true" class="c-site-footer-links__flag"></span></a><a class="c-site-footer-links__item o-animated-link" href="/who-we-are/governance/modern-slavery-statement">Modern slavery statement<span aria-hidden="true" class="c-site-footer-links__flag"></span></a><a class="c-site-footer-links__item o-animated-link" href="/who-we-are/governance/privacy-and-terms">Privacy and terms<span aria-hidden="true" class="c-site-footer-links__flag"></span></a><a class="c-site-footer-links__item o-animated-link" href="/cookie-policy">Cookie policy<span aria-hidden="true" class="c-site-footer-links__flag"></span></a><button class="c-site-footer-links__item o-animated-link" type="button"><span class="ds-btn__text">Manage cookies<span aria-hidden="true" class="c-site-footer-links__flag"></span></span></button><a class="c-site-footer-links__item o-animated-link" href="/who-we-are/governance/website-accessibility">Accessibility<span aria-hidden="true" class="c-site-footer-links__flag"></span></a><a class="c-site-footer-links__item o-animated-link" href="/who-we-are/contact-us">Contact Us<span aria-hidden="true" class="c-site-footer-links__flag"></span></a></div><div class="c-site-footer-social"><a class="c-site-footer-social__item" href="https://twitter.com/wellcometrust"><span class="ds-icon c-site-footer-social__icon tw-h-full tw-w-full" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M18.205 2.25h3.308l-7.227 8.26 8.502 11.24H16.13l-5.214-6.817L4.95 21.75H1.64l7.73-8.835L1.215 2.25H8.04l4.713 6.231 5.45-6.231Zm-1.161 17.52h1.833L7.045 4.126H5.078L17.044 19.77Z" fill="currentColor"></path></svg></span><span class="tw-sr-only">Wellcome on X</span></a><a class="c-site-footer-social__item" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/wellcome-trust"><span class="ds-icon c-site-footer-social__icon tw-h-full tw-w-full" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 2 24 24"><path d="M17.064 8.879c2.821 0 4.936 1.833 4.936 5.77V22h-4.287v-6.858c0-1.723-.62-2.898-2.172-2.898-1.184 0-1.89.792-2.2 1.558-.113.274-.14.656-.14 1.04V22H8.912v-.17c.004-.69.016-3.383.022-6.116l.001-.656.001-.652v-.64l.001-.316v-.911c-.001-1.669-.008-2.994-.025-3.359H13.2v1.816c.57-.873 1.588-2.117 3.864-2.117zM6.54 9.18V22H2.253V9.18H6.54zM4.425 3c1.467 0 2.37.957 2.398 2.214 0 1.231-.931 2.216-2.426 2.216H4.37C2.93 7.43 2 6.445 2 5.214 2 3.957 2.959 3 4.425 3z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></span><span class="tw-sr-only">Wellcome on Linkedin</span></a><a class="c-site-footer-social__item" href="https://www.instagram.com/wellcometrust/"><span class="ds-icon c-site-footer-social__icon tw-h-full tw-w-full" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="-1 -1 24 24"><path d="M6.465.066C7.638.012 8.012 0 11 0c2.988 0 3.362.013 4.534.066 1.172.053 1.972.24 2.672.511.733.277 1.398.71 1.948 1.27.56.549.992 1.213 1.268 1.947.272.7.458 1.5.512 2.67C21.988 7.639 22 8.013 22 11c0 2.988-.013 3.362-.066 4.535-.053 1.17-.24 1.97-.512 2.67a5.396 5.396 0 0 1-1.268 1.949c-.55.56-1.215.992-1.948 1.268-.7.272-1.5.458-2.67.512-1.174.054-1.548.066-4.536.066-2.988 0-3.362-.013-4.535-.066-1.17-.053-1.97-.24-2.67-.512a5.396 5.396 0 0 1-1.949-1.268 5.392 5.392 0 0 1-1.269-1.948c-.271-.7-.457-1.5-.511-2.67C.012 14.361 0 13.987 0 11c0-2.988.013-3.362.066-4.534.053-1.172.24-1.972.511-2.672a5.396 5.396 0 0 1 1.27-1.948A5.392 5.392 0 0 1 3.794.577c.7-.271 1.5-.457 2.67-.511h.001Zm8.98 1.98c-1.16-.053-1.508-.064-4.445-.064-2.937 0-3.285.011-4.445.064-1.073.049-1.655.228-2.043.379-.513.2-.88.437-1.265.822a3.412 3.412 0 0 0-.822 1.265c-.151.388-.33.97-.379 2.043-.053 1.16-.064 1.508-.064 4.445 0 2.937.011 3.285.064 4.445.049 1.073.228 1.655.379 2.043.176.477.457.91.822 1.265.355.365.788.646 1.265.822.388.151.97.33 2.043.379 1.16.053 1.507.064 4.445.064 2.938 0 3.285-.011 4.445-.064 1.073-.049 1.655-.228 2.043-.379.513-.2.88-.437 1.265-.822.365-.355.646-.788.822-1.265.151-.388.33-.97.379-2.043.053-1.16.064-1.508.064-4.445 0-2.937-.011-3.285-.064-4.445-.049-1.073-.228-1.655-.379-2.043-.2-.513-.437-.88-.822-1.265a3.413 3.413 0 0 0-1.265-.822c-.388-.151-.97-.33-2.043-.379Zm-5.85 12.345a3.67 3.67 0 1 0 2.641-6.846 3.67 3.67 0 0 0-2.641 6.846ZM7.002 7.002a5.654 5.654 0 1 1 7.996 7.996 5.654 5.654 0 0 1-7.996-7.996Zm10.906-.814a1.336 1.336 0 1 0-1.834-1.944 1.336 1.336 0 0 0 1.834 1.944Z" clip-rule="evenodd" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></span><span class="tw-sr-only">Wellcome on Instagram</span></a><a class="c-site-footer-social__item" href="https://www.youtube.com/user/wellcometrust"><span class="ds-icon c-site-footer-social__icon tw-h-full tw-w-full" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 18"><path d="M16.472 0c2.478 0 3.48.278 4.458.801A5.452 5.452 0 0 1 23.2 3.07c.522.978.801 1.98.801 4.459v2.944c0 2.478-.279 3.48-.801 4.459a5.452 5.452 0 0 1-2.269 2.268c-.977.522-1.98.801-4.458.801H7.528c-2.478 0-3.48-.279-4.459-.801A5.452 5.452 0 0 1 .801 14.93C.278 13.954 0 12.95 0 10.473V7.528c0-2.478.278-3.48.801-4.459A5.452 5.452 0 0 1 3.07.801C4.047.278 5.05 0 7.528 0h8.944ZM10 5.618a1 1 0 0 0-1 1v4.764a1 1 0 0 0 1.447.894l4.764-2.382a1 1 0 0 0 0-1.788l-4.764-2.382A1 1 0 0 0 10 5.618Z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></span><span class="tw-sr-only">Wellcome on YouTube</span></a><a class="c-site-footer-social__item" href="https://www.facebook.com/WellcomeTrust/"><span class="ds-icon c-site-footer-social__icon tw-h-full tw-w-full" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M13.65 22V11.999h2.958L17 8.552h-3.35l.005-1.725c0-.899.091-1.38 1.475-1.38h1.85V2h-2.96c-3.554 0-4.805 1.672-4.805 4.484v2.069H7v3.446h2.215V22h4.435z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></span><span class="tw-sr-only">Wellcome on Facebook</span></a></div><div class="c-site-footer__top"><a class="c-site-footer__top-link o-animated-link-nested" href="#top" id="link-back-to-top"><span class="o-animated-link-nested__child">Back to top</span></a></div></div></div></footer></div></div></div><script id="__NEXT_DATA__" type="application/json">{"props":{"pageProps":{"authors":null,"grantAwardHolders":null,"grantFundingScheme":null,"grantProjectSummary":null,"grantYearOfAward":null,"bannerImage":{"alt":"Henry Wellcome","caption":null,"credit":null,"height":578,"licence":null,"src":"https://cms.wellcome.org/sites/default/files/styles/banner_hi/public/2020-10/history-of-wellcome-banner-1600.jpg?h=4b4500e4\u0026itok=cMmQ-DEO","srcSet":"","width":1600},"bannerImages":null,"bannerVariant":"lead_with_image","contactLinks":[],"hasFullyRestrictedPageContent":false,"inpageNavLinks":[{"id":"wellcome-trust--af4d","title":"Wellcome Trust ","childLinks":[]},{"id":"wellcome-collection--e426","title":"Wellcome Collection ","childLinks":[]},{"id":"wellcome’s-mission--0079","title":"Wellcome’s mission ","childLinks":[]},{"id":"more-information-5e31","title":"More information","childLinks":[]}],"newsletterFooter":[{"__typename":"ParagraphNewsletter","id":"86b9ffda-0b56-4fea-9a67-25c757853e7d","body":{"__typename":"Text","processed":"\u003cp\u003eStay up to date with some of the biggest stories in global health, and how we're advocating to improve health for everyone.\u003c/p\u003e"},"newsletterSignupBoxPlacement":"footer","newsletterSignupType":"monthly","newsletterStyle":"light-blue","title":"Sign up to our monthly newsletter","anchorId":"section-867d"}],"page":{"__typename":"NodeStandard","bannerImageRef":{"__typename":"MediaImage","id":"704fe960-e81a-41ca-975c-b6098aa38d39","name":"History of Wellcome banner image","caption":null,"credit":null,"image":{"__typename":"Image","alt":"Henry Wellcome","height":578,"width":1600,"variations":[{"__typename":"ImageStyleDerivative","url":"https://cms.wellcome.org/sites/default/files/styles/banner_hi/public/2020-10/history-of-wellcome-banner-1600.jpg?h=4b4500e4\u0026itok=cMmQ-DEO"}]},"licence":null},"bannerStyling":"lead_with_image","excludeFromListings":false,"excludeBreadcrumbs":true,"id":"7723a011-ea46-48f2-824a-18711e891354","includeSchema":null,"jumpLinks":true,"metaDescription":"Henry Wellcome was a pharmaceutical entrepreneur. He left us three things in his will: his wealth, his collection of historical medical items, and a mission to improve health through research.","metaTitle":"History of Wellcome | Who we are | Wellcome","noindex":false,"path":"/who-we-are/history-wellcome","showLiveChat":false,"showPrintPageLink":false,"showSiblingNavigationMenu":false,"siblingNavigationRef":null,"socialShare":true,"standardPageType":{"__typename":"TermStandardPageTypes","name":"Basic"},"standfirst":{"__typename":"Text","processed":"\u003cp\u003eHenry Wellcome (1853-1936) was a pharmaceutical entrepreneur. He left us three things in his will: his wealth, his collection of historical medical items, and a mission to improve health through research.\u003c/p\u003e"},"datePublished":{"__typename":"DateTime","time":"2020-10-19T21:47:23+01:00"},"dateLastUpdated":null,"dateNextReview":null,"title":"History of Wellcome"},"pageContent":[{"__typename":"ParagraphSection","id":"afd8fbc4-e5d9-4160-b980-e27fdf20a74d","adminTitle":"Wellcome Trust ","sectionTitle":"Wellcome Trust ","contentSlicesRef":[{"__typename":"ParagraphText","id":"020dc0c7-1b79-4001-ad91-31e5609244b2","body":{"__typename":"Text","processed":"\u003cp\u003eThe Wellcome Trust was founded in 1936, in accordance with Henry Wellcome’s will, to improve health by supporting scientific research and the study of medicine. Funding for this mission came from the profits of the pharmaceutical business he had built up over 50 years.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1880, Silas Burroughs and Henry Wellcome, two pharmaceutical salesmen from America, started a new company in London called Burroughs, Wellcome \u0026amp; Co. They used mass production and proactive marketing to sell remedies and medicines throughout the UK and territories colonised by the British, building the company’s reputation on scientific rigour.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHenry Wellcome became a wealthy and prominent figure in the growth of the modern pharmaceutical industry. After his death in 1936 (Silas Burroughs had died in 1895), the company became the property of the newly formed Wellcome Trust, which used the profits to fund charitable activities supporting research related to health.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDespite financial difficulties after World War II, the business began to thrive again, pioneering a new approach to drug design. Successful products included the first leukaemia drug, immune suppressants for organ transplants, and antivirals such as AZT, the first drug approved to treat HIV.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTowards the end of the 20th century, the Wellcome Trust decided to sell the company, which is now part of GlaxoSmithKline and no longer has any ownership or governance relationship with Wellcome. We do work with GlaxoSmithKline, as we work with many other healthcare companies, when it helps us to achieve our mission.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe considerable proceeds from the sale gave the Wellcome Trust financial independence. Today, we invest in a wide range of financial assets around the world, and the returns from our portfolio – currently worth around £38 billion – fund everything we do.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFind out \u003ca data-entity-substitution data-entity-type data-entity-uuid href=\"/about-us/investments\" id rel target title\u003ehow we invest responsibly\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e"},"wideComponent":false},{"__typename":"ParagraphSectionInfo","id":"0b8532b3-63fa-433b-add9-b4b215780605","infoBoxStyling":"primary","contentSlicesRef":[{"__typename":"ParagraphTextSnippetWithTitle","id":"21a629ca-076a-437a-9eaa-23ef9bb6a908","title":"The Wellcome name","optionalTitleAs":null,"body":{"__typename":"Text","processed":"\u003cul\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003e1853: \u003cstrong\u003eHenry Wellcome\u003c/strong\u003e is born in the US\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003e1880: \u003cstrong\u003eBurroughs, Wellcome \u0026amp; Co\u003c/strong\u003e is established by Silas Burroughs and Henry Wellcome in London, UK\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003e1936: Henry Wellcome dies and his various interests around the world are brought together as \u003cstrong\u003eWellcome Foundation\u003c/strong\u003e, owned by the \u003cstrong\u003eWellcome Trust\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003e1985: Wellcome Trust sells the first shares in Wellcome Foundation, which is renamed \u003cstrong\u003eWellcome Plc\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003e1995: Wellcome Plc is bought by Glaxo to form \u003cstrong\u003eGlaxoWellcome\u003c/strong\u003e, which later becomes GlaxoSmithKline\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003e1995: The Wellcome Trust – or now just \u003cstrong\u003eWellcome\u003c/strong\u003e – has become an\u0026nbsp;independent charitable foundation\u003c/li\u003e\n\t\u003cli\u003e2007: \u003cstrong\u003eWellcome Collection\u003c/strong\u003e opens in London\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e"}}]}],"anchorId":"wellcome-trust--af4d"},{"__typename":"ParagraphSection","id":"e40fa9af-f660-4fe0-9c13-01ed7801ad26","adminTitle":"Wellcome Collection ","sectionTitle":"Wellcome Collection ","contentSlicesRef":[{"__typename":"ParagraphText","id":"ddc8398b-3ad8-4f28-a761-980822684bec","body":{"__typename":"Text","processed":"\u003cp\u003eHenry Wellcome’s collection was a vast personal project, the privilege of a wealthy white man in the Victorian era. He travelled the world (and sent others on his behalf) to acquire items relating to his interest in 'the art and science of healing throughout the ages'. Over the years, he bought millions of objects, only a fraction of which were ever displayed in his medical history exhibitions.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis kind of collecting relied on and fuelled a market for such items that was driven by colonial activities and open to exploitative trading. Many objects were taken out of their social and cultural context and used to sustain a narrative that assumed European superiority.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAfter Henry Wellcome's death, much of his collection was dispersed to other museums and collectors, though we still have thousands of objects in our care, as well as other items acquired since 1936. These form the basis of exhibitions and research at \u003ca data-entity-substitution data-entity-type data-entity-uuid href=\"https://wellcomecollection.org/\" id rel=\"noreferrer external nofollow\" target=\"_self\" title\u003eWellcome Collection\u003c/a\u003e, our free museum and library that opened in 2007 to explore health and human experience.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWellcome Collection today strives to connect the objects in our collections with people whose experiences can help us to understand the meanings they hold today. Information about the actions we are taking, and the principles that guide them, is on \u003ca data-entity-substitution data-entity-type data-entity-uuid href=\"https://wellcomecollection.org/\" id rel=\"noreferrer external nofollow\" target=\"_self\" title\u003eWellcome Collection's website\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e"},"wideComponent":null}],"anchorId":"wellcome-collection--e426"},{"__typename":"ParagraphSection","id":"003267a3-9a8f-4500-8190-fd2b7019ad79","adminTitle":"Wellcome’s mission ","sectionTitle":"Wellcome’s mission ","contentSlicesRef":[{"__typename":"ParagraphText","id":"6372373e-2f77-4934-9dce-292a88231200","body":{"__typename":"Text","processed":"\u003cp\u003eWellcome is an independent global charitable foundation dedicated to improving health through research. Although the way we deliver our mission has evolved since 1936, science has always been at the heart of it.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor the first 30 years, a small Board of Trustees based in the UK considered all applications for funding. Grants were given to set up new laboratories and support academic posts, particularly in pharmacology and tropical medicine. Travel grants promoted collaboration between researchers in the UK and other countries, often nations where research in tropical medicine had been an aspect of British colonialism.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1967, Wellcome began to focus more on supporting individual researchers rather than buildings and equipment. This meant more applications to process, and a larger staff to administer the charity’s activities. Spending continued to increase, funding more research units outside the UK as well as a number of units at UK universities to study the history of medicine.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAfter the sale of the company was completed in 1995, Wellcome became one of the largest grant-giving charities in the world. As well as hugely increasing our support for individuals and research centres, we began funding projects taking scientific advances and inventions towards clinical trials, and increased our support for public engagement with science. And we were able to set up – in partnership or independently – large-scale initiatives such as the Wellcome Sanger Institute, which sequenced one-third of the Human Genome Project.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eToday, Wellcome supports science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. We have four programmes of work: one for discovery research, and three to find solutions for the challenges of mental health, climate and health, and infectious diseases.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRead more about \u003ca data-entity-substitution=\"canonical\" data-entity-type=\"node\" data-entity-uuid=\"b657c3fc-3d00-40c1-9c2a-461295d75de0\" href=\"/who-we-are/strategy\" id rel target title=\"Wellcome's vision and strategy\"\u003eour vision and strategy\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e"},"wideComponent":false}],"anchorId":"wellcome’s-mission--0079"}],"pageMetaIcon":null,"pageMetaLabel":null,"pageMetaSubLabel":null,"pageType":"standard","pageUrl":"https://wellcome.org//who-we-are/history-wellcome","podcast":null,"profileImage":"https://cms.wellcome.org/sites/default/files/styles/image_full/public/2021-03/history-of-wellcome-listing.jpeg?itok=YwYrER5A","relatedContent":[{"__typename":"ParagraphSection","id":"5e38bbc8-017e-4837-ac39-6f7b30580c31","adminTitle":"Related content","sectionTitle":"More information","contentSlicesRef":[{"__typename":"ParagraphSectionList","id":"a9973a42-639e-4a20-b907-28e79f894ff9","hasDownload":null,"listingLayout":"horizontal_card","title":null,"contentSlicesRef":[{"__typename":"ParagraphLinkedContent","body":null,"id":"62f89fb8-ce53-4634-bf21-ef69260f616a","link":null,"title":null,"linkedContent":{"__typename":"NodeStandard","id":"b657c3fc-3d00-40c1-9c2a-461295d75de0","listingSummary":{"__typename":"Text","processed":"\u003cp\u003eWellcome supports science to solve urgent health challenges facing everyone.\u003c/p\u003e"},"path":"/who-we-are/strategy","title":"Wellcome's vision and strategy","listingImageRef":{"__typename":"MediaImage","id":"59c76e7b-ad8b-4500-8522-6bcdd5de15b4","image":{"__typename":"Image","variations":[{"__typename":"ImageStyleDerivative","url":"https://cms.wellcome.org/sites/default/files/styles/image_card/public/2022-10/Wellcome-logo-listing-image-09.png?itok=K7k2SmUI"}]}},"listingImageRefFallback":null}},{"__typename":"ParagraphLinkedContent","body":null,"id":"0d8ac23b-1adc-409f-9e0b-a8704393195b","link":null,"title":null,"linkedContent":{"__typename":"NodeStandard","id":"faba7c4a-8de0-40ca-815a-9a0d792d24d8","listingSummary":{"__typename":"Text","processed":"\u003cp\u003eWe support discovery research into life, health and wellbeing, and we’re taking on three worldwide health challenges: mental health, global heating and infectious diseases.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"},"path":"/who-we-are","title":"Who we are","listingImageRef":{"__typename":"MediaImage","id":"434ce0af-9390-40f7-b5d1-0de9c3ed9880","image":{"__typename":"Image","variations":[{"__typename":"ImageStyleDerivative","url":"https://cms.wellcome.org/sites/default/files/styles/image_card/public/2022-07/C0105191_Medium.jpg?itok=fZz9DTYo"}]}},"listingImageRefFallback":{"__typename":"MediaImage","id":"434ce0af-9390-40f7-b5d1-0de9c3ed9880","image":{"__typename":"Image","variations":[{"__typename":"ImageStyleDerivative","url":"https://cms.wellcome.org/sites/default/files/styles/image_card/public/2022-07/C0105191_Medium.jpg?itok=fZz9DTYo"}]}}}},{"__typename":"ParagraphLinkedPath","author":null,"body":null,"contentType":null,"href":"https://wellcomecollection.org/","id":"7b27d78e-2570-4877-93d1-1fae53ab7897","imageRef":{"__typename":"MediaImage","id":"1fdc1d9a-a044-4ce6-bb82-1e61e6ef7ea5","image":{"__typename":"Image","variations":[{"__typename":"ImageStyleDerivative","url":"https://cms.wellcome.org/sites/default/files/styles/image_card/public/2020-10/wellcome-collection-listing-image.jpg?itok=1H92i67I"}]}},"datePublished":null,"title":"Wellcome Collection"}]}],"anchorId":"more-information-5e31"}],"schemaImages":["https://cms.wellcome.org/sites/default/files/styles/image_full/public/2021-03/history-of-wellcome-listing.jpeg?itok=YwYrER5A","https://cms.wellcome.org/sites/default/files/styles/image_full_mobile/public/2021-03/history-of-wellcome-listing.jpeg?itok=iKG4AwoT","https://cms.wellcome.org/sites/default/files/styles/image_full_hi/public/2021-03/history-of-wellcome-listing.jpeg?itok=JNqNd3NV"],"schemaSocialLinks":null,"siblingNavigation":null,"socialImage":"https://cms.wellcome.org/sites/default/files/styles/image_full/public/2021-03/history-of-wellcome-listing.jpeg?itok=YwYrER5A","topics":[]},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/[...id]","query":{"id":["who-we-are","history-wellcome"]},"buildId":"zGnw8mGIAnxtUK65XkF5c","isFallback":false,"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}</script></body></html>