Albert Lasker

Albert Davis Lasker (May 1, 1880 – May 30, 1952) was an American advertising executive and philanthropist who pioneered techniques that shaped modern advertising and co-founded a foundation supporting medical research advancements.

Born in Freiburg, Germany, to Jewish parents Morris and Nettie Lasker, he immigrated to the United States as an infant and grew up in Galveston, Texas, where his father served as a civic leader. At age 18, Lasker moved to Chicago and joined the Lord & Thomas advertising agency as a copywriter, rising rapidly to become a partner by 1903 and president in 1912, during which time he expanded the firm into the world's largest agency by emphasizing "salesmanship in print" and consumer-focused campaigns for products like Sunkist oranges and Palmolive soap. His innovations included systematic market research and the integration of psychology into ad strategies, crediting much of his success to hiring talents like John E. Kennedy, who defined advertising as "salesmanship in print."

Albert Davis Lasker was born on May 1, 1880, in Freiburg, Prussia (now Germany), to Morris Lasker and Nettie (Davis) Lasker, both of German-Jewish descent. His parents had traveled from the United States to Europe seeking medical treatment for Nettie during her pregnancy. The family, including Lasker as the third of eight children, returned to America shortly after his birth and settled in Galveston, Texas, by 1881, where he spent his formative years.