William Wrigley Jr.
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William Wrigley, Jr. (September 30, 1861–January 26, 1932) was a U.S. chewing gum industrialist. He was founder and eponym of the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company in 1891. He was born in Philadelphia, PA.
Wrigley played an instrumental role in the history of Catalina Island, off the shore of Los Angeles, California. He bought the island in 1919 and improved the island with public utilities, new steamships, a hotel, the Casino building, and extensive plantings of trees, shrubs and flowers. However, William Wrigley Jr.'s greatest legacy was his plan for the future of Catalina Island -- that it remain protected for all generations to enjoy. For this, he is honored with the Wrigley Memorial in the Wrigley Botanical Gardens on the island.
Wrigley was also owner of the Chicago Cubs baseball team, which held its annual spring training on Catalina Island. Wrigley Field, the Cubs' ballpark in Chicago, is named for the owner. The now-demolished former home of the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League, at that time the Cubs' top farm team, was also called Wrigley Field.
Wrigley left everything to his son, P.K. Wrigley, who continued to run the company businesses for the next 45 years until his death.
William Wrigley, Jr. (1964- ) is also the name of the current chairman of the Wrigley Company; he is the son of William Wrigley (1933-1999), the grandson of Philip K. Wrigley, and the great-grandson of William Wrigley (1861-1932).de:William Wrigley Jr.