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Early Years
Milton Hershey was born on September 13, 1857, in Derry Township, Pennsylvania. At age 13, Hershey dropped out of school and expressed an interest in candy making. He had apprenticed with a master confectioner in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. -
Adulthood Pt. 1
After working with the confectioner for some time, Milton discovered how to make caramel. Hershey eventually started the Lancaster Caramel Co., but before he started this company he struck out on his own as he desired to not work for anyone, but failed. -
Adulthood Pt. 2
While his caramel business began to boom, Hershey got hooked on the art of chocolate making. He was determined to find a new formula that would allow him to mass distribute and produce. He sold his caramel company and began building what is now known to be the world's largest chocolate manufacturing company. -
How He Made His Money
At the peak of Milton Hershey's career, he made most of his money through the mass production and selling of chocolate. He founded the Hershey Chocolate Company in 1894, and it was done being built in 1905. By introducing new products such as Hershey's Kisses and Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar, he created his own brand and built his own business. This made him one of the most successful entrepreneurs of this era. -
Worker Treatment Pt. 1
Milton Hershey treated the workers well, as some would say, but others would disagree. Milton built the town of Hershey, Pennsylvania to provide his workers with homes and schools. He inspired loyalty and admiration, and invested in his town when help was needed. -
Worker Treatment Pt. 2
Apart from the good ways he treated them, he also wasn't the best in ways. His company had control over their workers lives. They hired and fired based on personal relationships and left the workers with no influence on their own lives. The workers were discontent with their wages and their working conditions. Their workplace didn't want to unionize. The workers did, leading to a strike in 1937. -
Later Life
Milton Hershey and his wife Catherine could not have kids, so they focused a good portion of their wealth on helping children. The Hershey's opened the Hershey Industrial School in 1909, originally a school for orphaned boys, but it has since become a school for girls as well. The school is now called the Milton Hershey School. After his wife's death he transferred most of his funds to the Hershey Trust, which funded the school. Milton worked well into his 80s, and died on October 13, 1945. -
How He Spent His Wealth
Milton Hershey spent his wealth on his community, not himself. He built the Milton Hershey School, previously known as the Hershey Industrial School, for orphaned and disadvantaged boys, now serving children from all genders and backgrounds. He donated $60 million of his company stock towards this school. He built the town of Hershey, Pennsylvania for his workers and their families. He later funded the creation of the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Nonetheless, Hershey was a philanthropist. -
Impacts On Society/Industry
Mainly beginning in 1909, Milton impacted a multitude of things in positive ways. He revolutionized the chocolate industry, envisioned and built the town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, introduced numerous innovations manufacturing and distribution, and inspired modern approaches to philanthropy. He was a model of innovation, generosity, and social entrepreneurship. -
Quote
"One is only happy in proportion as he makes others feel happy and only useful as he contributes his influences for the finer callings in life" Hershey is basically saying that one can't feel happy just by helping himself, but also helping others.
Milton Hershey spoke this quote as his motto. It summed up what he wanted and we still follow this motto today. -
Net Worth
When Milton Hershey died his net worth was estimated to be around $100 million. Milton gave away most of his fortune to the Milton Hershey School when he was alive so he was left with mainly just his personal belongings. His net worth is now estimated to be around $17 billion. -
Modern Figure
Bill Gates symbolizes Milton Hershey. Gates and Hershey were both philanthropists. They both wanted to use their wealth to benefit society and not just themselves. One as well as the other had established their own big projects; Milton, the Milton Hershey School for disadvantaged children, Gates, the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation. -
Political Cartoon
This political cartoon symbolized unity and was made around the 1980/90s, when this was all going down. The Hershey chocolate company's management wanted a union-free workplace. The first in this picture represents strength and Union, as the fingers already state. The chocolate that the fist is bursting through represents how a union forms inside of this chocolate factory, hence the chocolate. And the words "How Sweet It Is" indicate how this is all going down inside of a chocolate factory. -
My Verdict
I believe Milton Hershey was a Captain of Industry. Hershey didn't just care for himself and his wealth, he cared for others. He was a philanthropist. He wanted to help others benefit from his wealth and not just him. Milton treated his workers with dignity. He created a town with attributes, like a school, housing, and parks. He opened a school for disadvantaged kids with most of his fortune. And he made his chocolate affordable and accessible to everyone. -
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