* Born on September 13, 1857, in Derry Church, Pennsylvania. Hershey's father, Henry Hershey, was a farmer, and his mother, Veronica Fanny Snavely, was a homemaker.
* His mother died when he was four, and his father remarried a short time later. Hershey did not have a good relationship with his stepmother and often ran away from home.
* At the age of 14, Hershey was apprenticed to a printer in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He learned the trade of printing and worked as a printer for several years.
* In 1876, Hershey returned to Derry Church and opened his own printing shop. He also started a candy business on the side, making caramels and other confections.
* Hershey's candy business began to grow, and in 1886 he moved it to Lancaster. He also started making chocolate and other candy products.
* In 1893, Hershey's candy business was destroyed by a fire. He rebuilt the business and continued to grow it.
* In 1900, Hershey sold his candy business to the American Caramel Company for $1 million. He then moved to Derry Church and retired.
* Hershey died on October 13, 1945, at the age of 88.