The Umbrella Corporation was founded by Lord Ozwell E. Spencer, a man descended from the Galante Royal Family. Two other people were prominently involved in the conception of Umbrella: James Marcus and Edward Ashford, although it is apparent that Spencer was the driving force behind the formation of the company as Marcus and Ashford were far more interested in the potential uses of the newly-discovered Progenitor Reactions. When Ashford died, Spencer was able to largely sideline Marcus at the Raccoon City facilities while he maintained control over the Corporation. Lord Spencer arranged for the assassination of Dr. Marcus, a task that was duly carried out by two of Marcus' most brilliant and ambitious assistants, William Birkin and Albert Wesker. Birkin would subsequently take over all of Marcus' research, including the studies on the Progenitor Reaction and his achievement in the creation of The Blue Pill.