John Boot

John Boot (1815–1860), born in Radcliffe on Trent in Nottinghamshire, England, was the founder of Boots the Chemists. His son Jesse Boot transformed the company into a retailer known throughout the world.

Boot was born in Radcliffe on Trent in 1815 and was a farm worker until illness forced him to change career. Boot moved to Hockley Village.

From the herbal remedies his mother made, Boot started up a trade of making and selling herbal remedies. Boot was not trained as a chemist and learned his later profession.

He later married Mary, who gave birth to two children: Jesse and Jane.

In 1849 Boot opened his herbalist shop in Goose Gate, Nottingham, that would become the roots of the Boots UK empire.

Even as a chemist, Boot's health did not improve and he died in 1860, leaving his wife and business behind. Mary Boot carried on with the business as M & J Boot, Herbalists.

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