Company History Timeline 

1885
Charles E. Merrill was born on 19 October, in Green Cove Springs, Florida.

Edmund C. Lynch was born on 19 May, in Baltimore, Maryland.

1907 
Charles E. Merrill arrives in New York City to work for a textile company. He meets Edmund C. Lynch at the 23rd Street YMCA. Lynch is looking for someone to share his boardinghouse room and an enduring partnership begins.

1911 
While working for the firm of George H. Burr & Co., Charles E. Merrill writes an article for Leslie's Weekly addressed to "Mr. Average Investor." The article emphasizes the broker's need to consider the customer's circumstances and objectives when suggesting investments — the precursor of the modern Merrill Lynch Principle Client Focus.

1914
On 6 January, Charles E Merrill & Co. opens its doors. Merrill's credo: "I have no fear of failure, provided I use my heart and head, hands and feet — and work like hell." Merrill persuades Lynch to join him and, on 19 May, they open their office at 7 Wall Street.

1915
Charles E. Merrill & Co. changes its name to Merrill, Lynch & Co. At the time, an associate noted the partners' complementary strengths: "Merrill could imagine the possibilities; Lynch imagined what might go wrong in a malevolent world."

1919 
Merrill, Lynch & Co. hires Annie Grimes as its operations manager, launching the career of Wall Street's first bond saleswoman.

  View 1920s