John Boot

For the grandson with the same name, see John Boot, 2nd Baron Trent.

John Boot (1815–1860), born in Radcliffe on Trent in Nottinghamshire, England, was the founder of Boots the Chemists. His son Jesse Boot transformed the company into a retailer known throughout the world.

Boot was born in Radcliffe on Trent in 1815 and was a farm worker until illness forced him to change career. Boot moved to Hockley Village.

From the herbal remedies his mother made, Boot started up a trade of making and selling herbal remedies. Boot was not trained as a chemist and learned his later profession.

He later married Mary, who gave birth to two children: Jesse and Jane.

In 1849 Boot opened his herbalist shop in Goose Gate, Nottingham, that would become the roots of the Boots UK empire.

Even as a chemist, Boot's health did not improve and he died in 1860, leaving his wife and business behind. Mary Boot carried on with the business as M & J Boot, Herbalists.