john haas was the son of otto haas, founder of the chemical company rohm and haas, and his wife, astronomer phoebe waterman haas. rohm and haas was founded by otto haas and otto rohm in germany in 1907. originally a leather-tanning business, the company expanded into the united states, opening a branch in philadelphia, pennsylvania, in 1911. it subsequently became a more broadly based chemical and plastics company.