John Merrick (1859 – 1919) was an African-American entrepreneur born in Clinton, North Carolina, who founded the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company. Merrick was born into slavery and raised by a single mother. He began working in business and entrepreneurship early with barbershops, and he involved the community in his businesses. He eventually founded not only the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, but many other companies, such as banks in the Raleigh-Durham area.