P002464 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1997-06-30 human Rosanne Walker updated 2025-11-05 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P002464b.htm person Nicholas George Richard Rich AACR2 19 May 1884 20 September 1960 Place of Birth Majorca, Victoria, Australia Place of Death Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia Pharmacist George Nicholas made the first Australian acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), which was registered in 1917 as "Aspro". He qualified as a pharmacist in July 1912 and after synthesising aspirin formed Shmith, Nicholas & Co., in 1915 with Henry Woolf Shmith, to commercialise the product. The name "Aspro" was adopted and registered in April 1917 and George's brother, Alfred, joined the company as business manager. The company was initially unsuccessful and Shmith pulled out, but throughout the 1920s it extended its operations into New Zealand (1923), England (1924), Europe (1925) and Asia (1927). George was managing director of the company 1937-1947. During this time the company diversified into production of vitamin supplements, veterinary goods and pharmaceuticals. 1912 1912 Education - Qualified as a pharmacist in July 1915 1915 Career position - Formed Shmith, Nicholas & Co 1917 1917 Career position - The name "Aspro" adopted and registered in April 1923 1923 Career position - Company expanded to New Zealand 1924 1924 Career position - Company expanded to England 1925 1925 Career position - Company expanded to Europe 1927 1927 Career position - Company expanded to Asia 1937 1947 Career position - Managing Director of the company Shmith, Harry Woolf 1915 1915

Worked on the purification of 'Aspirin'

 Nicholas, William (1826 - 1917)

William Nicholas was the uncle of George Nicholas

 Nicholas, Alfred Michael (1881 - 1937)

Wikidata

VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

 Nicholas, George Richard (1884-1960)

Trove

 'Nicholas, George Richard Rich', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Nicholas, George Richard Rich Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Book: Aspro:how a family business grew up Smith, Robert Grenville and Barrie, Alexander Aspro:how a family business grew up Melbourne Nicholas International Ltd. 1976 Resource: Technology in Australia 1788-1988 Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering Technology in Australia 1788-1988 Online Melbourne Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre 2000