Robert Spear Hudson (soap)

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Robert Spear Hudson (6 December 1812 - 1884) was a pharmacist who popularised dry soap powder.

He was born in West Bromwich, Staffordshire, the son of John and Sarah Hudson. Hudson started making a soap powder in the back of his shop in High Street, West Bromwich, in 1837. He began by grinding the soap with a mortar and pestle using the coarse bar soap of the day. Before that people had to make soap flakes themselves. It was popular with his customers. Hudson began advertising at at unprecedented levels. For example, he put "A little of Hudson's goes a long way" on the a coach that ran between Liverpool and York. In 1853 his business was further helped by the removal of tax on soap. By 1854 he was employing 10 people in production in a dedicated factory and in 1875 he opened a factory at Bank Hall, Liverpool. The soap was made by William Gossage's business in Widnes. Hudson's soap became highly successful and famous names like "Rinso" and "Omo" originated from the company. This business was sold by his son Robert William Hudson to Lever Brothers in 1908.