Gerard Philips


Gerard Leonard Frederik Philips was a Dutch industrialist and co-founder, with his father Frederik Philips, of Philips as a family business in 1891. In 1912, Gerard and his younger brother Anton Philips converted the business to a corporation by founding NV Philips' Gloeilampenfabrieken.

Career and family

Born to a Dutch family of Jewish heritage, his father Benjamin Frederik David Philips was a first cousin to Karl Marx. His mother was Maria Heyligers. His grandfather was tobacco merchant Lion Philips.
Gerard Philips became interested in electronics and engineering. His father Frederik financed Gerard's purchase of the old factory building in Eindhoven where he established the first factory in 1891. They initially operated the Philips Company as a family business, with Gerard's younger brother Anton and Anton's son Frits Philips and son-in-law Frans Otten later brought into the business.
On 19 March 1896 Philips married Johanna van der Willigen. They had no children.

Civic activities

Gerard and his brother Anton supported education and social programs in Eindhoven, including the Philips Sport Vereniging, which they founded. From it the professional football department developed into the independent Philips Sport Vereniging N.V.