Friedrich Jacob Merck

Friedrich Jacob Merck (18 February 1621—1678) was a German pharmacist and a member of the Merck family. He was the founder of the world's oldest pharmaceutical company, now known as the Merck Group, which was established in 1668.

Friedrich Jacob Merck was the son of Johann Merck (1573–1642), an innkeeper from Schweinfurt who ran the Zum Schwarzen Bären inn and who was a member of the city council. He did an apprenticeship in the Ratsapotheke in his hometown. He first owned a pharmacy in Wesselburen, before moving to Darmstadt. In 1668 he acquired the second city pharmacy there, the Engel-Apotheke, which became the start of the Merck company.

Friedrich Jacob Merck had an older brother, Georg Merck (1611–1683), who later became a pharmacist.

Friedrich Jacob Merck died in 1678 without any descendants. He had chosen his nephew Georg Friedrich Merck (1647–1715) as his successor.