1914: On January 6, the Charles EM Merrill Company was established. On May 9, Merrill persuaded Lynch to join it. On May 9, the new company opened.
1915: Charles E. Merrill changed its name to Merrill Lynch.
1919: Merrill Lynch hires Annie Grimes as sales manager, becoming the first woman to work in sales on Wall Street.
1926: Merrill Lynch purchased a majority controlling interest in a food store in southern California. Represents a significant investment by the company outside the financial sector.
1930: Merrill Lynch pledges itself to the continued development of the investment bank.
1932: Charlie Merrill publishes his experience in running a grocery chain in Home Circle, the first grocery store sales magazine.
1938: Edmund Lynch died at the age of 52.
1941: Merrill Lynch, E. APierce and Cassatt print the first annual accounting report.
1943: The company assigns its first woman, 18-year-old Helen Hanzelin, to work at the New York Stock Exchange.
1945: The company establishes its first training school for salesmen, now financial advisers.
1947: The company printed "WePeople" for the first time and distributed it to Merrill Lynch employees in China.
1949: The company's San Francisco office offers an investment seminar for women.
1956: Charles E. Merrill died.
1960: Continuing the trend of global expansion begun in the 1950s. Merrill Lynch established its first firm in London.
1961: In search of new markets and customers, Merrill Lynch entered Japan and established an office in Tokyo three years later.
1973: Merrill Lynch becomes the first company to adopt the holding company form in the securities business.
1974: The slogan "Bull" becomes the trademark for all Merrill Lynch financial services.
1976: Merrill Lynch Asset Management becomes an integral part of Merrill Lynch Corporation.
1977: CMA introduced.
1978: In order to consolidate the investment banking field, Merrill Lynch acquired White, Weldamp; Co., Inc.
1980: Each Christmas morning, Merrill Lynch opens its phone lines to senior citizens who can call their loved ones for free. This was invented by Chairman William A. Schreyer.
1982: Merrill Lynch established its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong.
1985: Merrill Lynch became the first foreign securities company to enter the Japan Stock Exchange. Merrill Lynch celebrates 100th anniversary.
1986: The first annual report in a foreign language is published in Japan. The annual report was later translated into Chinese, French, German, Spanish and Russian.
1993: New chairman and CEO Daniel P takes office. Merrill Lynch's corporate principles were formalized. The five principles are: the basis for our behavior as leaders, colleagues, employees and residents. We are committed to conducting our personal and organizational conduct within the framework of our Business Principles. This commitment helps us become the world's best company. As ML becomes more diverse and global, operating principles help us determine more clearly what kind of company we are, what we believe in, and what services we expect we can provide to ourselves, our customers, and our shareholders. Merrill Lynch became the first foreign securities company in China, headquartered in Shanghai.
1995: After acquiring Smith New Court, Merrill Lynch became an equity organization in the world with excellent research, trade and sales capabilities.
1996-1998: Expanded worldwide influence through mergers and acquisitions.
1998: Merrill Lynch is listed on the Korea Stock Exchange. Merrill Lynch's website records a milestone in customer service, with 300,000 customers registered on the Internet.
1999: Merrill received the Presidential Medal for establishing the scholarship program.
2000: Merrill Lynch and HSBC create the first global, online investment and banking service aimed at attracting foreign investors.
2001: Employees of nearly 9,000 Wall Street firms leave their offices after the attacks on the World Trade Towers. Three Merrill Lynch employees were killed on 9/11.
2002: E. Stanley ONeal was appointed CEO in December. Became chairman on April 28, 2003. In March, less than a year after 9/11, Merrill Lynch had its officials return to the world's financial center in lower Manhattan. In September, the 9/11 Hopes and Dreams Higher Education Scholarship, a $5 million fund, was created for college students in the region affected by the tragedy.
2003: Merrill Lynch announced as "TotalMerrill", a financial management platform that customers can use to organize their daily financial work or become a part of it.
2008: Affected by the subprime mortgage crisis, it suffered serious losses and was acquired by Bank of America.