Births on January 5

King Camp Gillette

Born on January 5, 1855

King Camp Gillette, American businessman, founded the Gillette Company (d. 1932)

King Camp Gillette (January 5, 1855 – July 9, 1932) was an American businessman. He invented a best-selling version of the safety razor. Several models were in existence before Gillette's design. Gillette's innovation was the thin, inexpensive, disposable blade of stamped steel. Gillette is erroneously credited with inventing the so-called razor and blades business model in which razors are sold cheaply to increase the market for blades. However, Gillette Safety Razor Company adopted the business model from its competitors.

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Events on 1855

14 Feb

Telegraphy
Texas is linked by telegraph to the rest of the United States, with the completion of a connection between New Orleans and Marshall, Texas.
22 Feb

State College, Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania State University is founded in State College, Pennsylvania (as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania).
1 Jun

William Walker (filibuster)
The American adventurer William Walker conquers Nicaragua.
4 Jul

Leaves of Grass
The first edition of Walt Whitman's book of poems, Leaves of Grass, is published In Brooklyn.
16 Nov

Victoria Falls
David Livingstone becomes the first European to see the Victoria Falls in what is now Zambia-Zimbabwe.

Births on January 5

King Camp Gillette

Born on January 5, 1855

References

Choose Another Date

Events on 1855

Telegraphy

State College, Pennsylvania

William Walker (filibuster)

Leaves of Grass

Victoria Falls