Caroline Märklin

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Caroline Märklin (born Carolina Friederika Hettich; March 13, 1826 – December 2, 1893) was a German businesswoman who led the toy company Märklin after her husband’s death.

- Born in Ludwigsburg, Germany.
- In 1859 she married Theodor Märklin, founder of Märklin, and joined the business as a traveling salesperson, delivering dollhouse accessories to southern Germany and Switzerland.
- Theodor died in 1866 in an accident; Caroline became the owner and manager of Märklin.
- In 1868 she remarried Julius Eitel; he died by suicide in 1886 amid a troubled marriage.
- She had two sons, Eugen and Karl Märklin.
- She ran Märklin until 1888, when her sons took over and shifted the company toward model trains, which it later became famous for.
- Caroline Märklin died in Göppingen in 1893 at age 67.