The Marlboro Legacy: A Tale of Ambition and Consequence The Marlboro brand, now synonymous with tobacco products, has a storied history that intertwines with the broader narrative of smoking and public health. The first owner of the Marlboro company was a man named Philip Morris, who founded the company in 1847 in London, England, initially focusing on producing high-quality cigarettes. However, it wasn't until the early 20th century that Marlboro cigarettes began to emerge as a prominent brand