Friedrich Jacob Merck (18 February 1621—1678) was a German pharmacist and a member of the Merck family. He was the founder of the world's oldest pharmaceutical company, now known as the Merck Group, which was established in 1668.^[1][2]

Friedrich Jacob Merck was the son of Johann Merck (1573–1642), an innkeeper from Schweinfurt who ran the Zum Schwarzen Bären inn and who was a member of the city council. He did an apprenticeship in the Ratsapotheke in his hometown. He first owned a pharmacy in Wesselburen, before moving to Darmstadt. In 1668 he acquired the second city pharmacy there, the Engel-Apotheke, which became the start of the Merck company.

Friedrich Jacob Merck had an older brother, Georg Merck (1611–1683), who later became a pharmacist.

Friedrich Jacob Merck died in 1678 without any descendants. He had chosen his nephew Georg Friedrich Merck (1647–1715) as his successor.^[3]

• Merck family