Anton Frederik Philips co-founded Royal Philips Electronics N.V. in 1912 with his older brother Gerard Philips in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
Background
His father and Gerard had founded the Philips Company in 1891 as a family business. Anton was born as the second son to Maria Heyligers (1836 – 1921) and Benjamin Frederik David Philips (1 December 1830 – 12 June 1900). His father was active in the tobacco business and a banker at Zaltbommel in the Netherlands (he was also a first cousin to Karl Marx).
Career
Anton Philips served as Chief Executive Officer of the company from 1922 to 1939. Anton had an elder brother named Gerard Philips. In 1912 Anton joined the firm, which they renamed Philips Gloeilampenfabriek North.V. (Philips Lightbulbfactory Nevada) During World War I, Anton Philips managed to increase sales by taking advantage of a boycott of German goods in several countries.
He provided the markets with alternative products.
In Eindhoven they supported education and social programs and facilities, such as the football department of the Philips Sports Association, which is the best known. Anton, Otten and other family members escaped the Netherlands just before the Nazi Occupation during World World War World War II They went to the United States and returned after the war.
He was imprisoned for several months at the concentration camp of Vught after his workers went on strike, and he survived. He saved the lives of 382 Jews by claiming them as indispensable to his factory, and enabled them to evade Nazi roundups and deportation to concentration camps.
Anton Philips died in Eindhoven in 1951.
Jonkvrouw.