Procter, William C(ooper) (1862–1934)

US business executive. He was general manager of the firm Procter & Gamble from 1890 and became president in 1907. By 1934 the company had seven factories, including locations in England and Canada. He was active in Cincinnati civic affairs, his main philanthropies were hospitals and schools.

He was born in Glendale, Ohio. He lived in Cincinnati his entire life and joined the family soap-making firm founded by his father, William Alexander Procter. Introduced in 1879, Ivory Soap became the most famous product with the advertising slogan ‘It floats’. (It was his brother, Harley Procter, however, who is credited with devising the advertising and marketing campaigns that would make Ivory Soap the leader in its field.) He instituted many labour reforms, such as half holidays on Saturdays (1887), profit sharing, and pensions. In 1923 the company guaranteed 48 hours of work a week to all employees.