English subsiduary of American company; Abbott Laboratories is now a global health care company operating in around 130 countries, developing products in four divisions: health care, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and nutrition. The Abbott headquarters are located in Abbott Park, Libertyville, north of Chicago, Illinois, United States;

1888 - founded by Wallace Calvin Abbott (c. 1858-1921), who made dosimetric granules above his People's Drug Store in Chicago, United States; 1900 - company incorporated as The Abbott Alkaloidal Co. 1910 - the business expands with branches on New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, agency for Europe in London and business on India. 1915 - company name changed to Abbott Laboratories. 1937 - name changed to Abbott Laboratories Inc with UK subsiduary Abbott Laboratories (England) Ltd at 3 Wadsworth Road, Perivale, Middlesex. Manufactured as well as supplied

1946 - Abbott Laboratories Eire Ltd established to market and distribute;

about 1948 - Abbott Laboratories (England) Ltd moved to Bede Trading Estate, Jarrow,

1949 - Abbott Laboratories (England) Ltd renamed Abbott Laboratories Ltd

1957 - Abbott Laboratories Ltd opens office at Berk House, 8 Baker Street, London

1959-1962 – new offices and factories built at Queenborough, Kent and other sites closed.

1965 - Abbott Laboratories Eire Ltd renamed Abbott Laboratories Ireland Ltd

1987 – new offices Norden Road, Maidenhead, England

2001 - acquires BASF pharmaceutical business including Knoll Pharmaceuticals

2004 - Abbott Diabetes Care acquires TheraSense Inc, and i-STAT Corp and EAS Inc

2006 – acquires Guidant Inc and Kos Pharmaceuticals

2009 - acquires Ibis Biosciences, Advanced Medical Optics, Visiogen, Inc. and Evalve, Inc

2010 – acquires Solvay Pharmaceuticals, STARLIMS Technologies, Facet Biotech Corporation and the Healthcare Solutions business of India’s Piramal Healthcare Ltd.; Abbott creates the Established Products Division