Founders Day

Seeing a need for pharmacy education in St. Louis, Eugene Massot, a self-educated apothecary from Kentucky, became the founding father of St. Louis College of Pharmacy, and his vision became the foundation for our institution’s legacy.

As a 13-year-old boy growing up in Galena, Illinois, in 1836, Massot worked as an apprentice in a local pharmacy. In those days, apothecaries didn’t attend classes, and there were no formal degrees in pharmacy in the Midwest.

After completing his apprenticeship, Massot followed the Gold Rush to California, passing through St. Louis on the way. In 1852, he returned to St. Louis and opened his own drugstore, the same year the American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA) was formed. He became closely involved with APhA and helped to breathe new life into the St. Louis Pharmaceutical Association.

Massot wanted the local apothecaries, who had begun to meet in the back rooms of drugstores to learn about botany, chemistry and other pharmaceutical topics, to have the education he never had.

In 1860, Massot, along with a committee of apothecaries and physicians, was appointed by the St. Louis Pharmaceutical Association to consider opening a college of pharmacy. Discussions stalled out during the Civil War but were revived in September of 1864.

On November 11, 1864, at 7:30 p.m., St. Louis College of Pharmacy was founded in the hall of the St. Louis Medical College. Massot, along with four other medical colleagues, went about drafting a charter, constitution, and bylaws. He was the only apothecary on the committee.

Four years later, Massot was among the College’s first graduating class of 17 men.

In 1869, just one year later, the College was forced to suspend instruction due to low enrollment. Massot persuaded APhA to hold its annual convention in St. Louis in 1871, which garnered enough interest and support to boost enrollment, allowing the college to resume classes in 1871.

The legacy of Massot’s determination lives on as the institution continues to expand student opportunity through new programs and an innovative health care education that prepares graduates to be leaders in building a healthier society.