John Pemberton

John Stith Pemberton

Tombstone of John Pemberton in Columbus, Georgia

John Stith Pemberton (born July 8, 1831 in Knoxville , Georgia , † August 16, 1888 in Atlanta , Georgia) was an American pharmacist , lieutenant colonel during the American Civil War in the Confederate Army and the inventor of Coca-Cola .

At 17, he began training at the nearby Southern Botanico Medical College of Georgia . Two years later, in 1850, Pemberton graduated, followed by a year-long internship in Philadelphia as a pharmacy trainee. It was there that he met his future wife, Anne Eliza Clifford, known as Cliff. Three years after the first meeting, in 1853, the two married and a year later had their first and only child, Charley.

At the age of 24, Pemberton began mixing so-called branded products, which later also included the product Coca-Cola. His first creations were Eureka Oil, Dr. Stanford's Great Invigorator and Southern Cordial. In 1869 Pemberton moved from his hometown to Atlanta . From around 1885 John Pemberton became addicted to morphine and began to be interested in the coca plant and a mixture made from this plant. He was convinced that the cocaine would soon stop him from getting rid of the morphine. At the time, cocaine was not considered a drug that was harmful to health.

Pemberton experimented with the Coca-Cola formula until 1887 when it was reasonably perfect in his eyes. On June 6, 1887, he registered a patent for his drink, and on June 28, this application was officially confirmed. Pemberton did not enjoy his monopoly for long , just two days after filing the patent application, he sold two thirds of his rights to Asa Griggs Candler's company to raise money for his addiction. He also knew that he didn't have much longer to live. Knowing that his son Charley still needed money for his future, he kept the last third. John Pemberton died of gastric cancer on August 16, 1888, at the age of 57. Charley died just six years later of an overdose of raw opium - he had previously also sold the remaining shares in Asa because he needed the money.

On his headstone are engraved symbols of his military service in the Army of the Confederate States of America as well as Freemasonry . Pemberton was a member of the Masonic Lodge Columbian Lodge No. 7 in Columbus, Georgia .

Individual evidence

↑ John Stith Pemberton Freemason on the homepage of the Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon "A Few Famous Masons" (accessed May 18, 2016)

Web links

Commons : John Pemberton - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

personal data
SURNAME	Pemberton, John
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Pemberton, John Stith (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American druggist and the inventor of Coca-Cola
DATE OF BIRTH	July 8, 1831
PLACE OF BIRTH	Knoxville , Georgia, Georgia
DATE OF DEATH	August 16, 1888
Place of death	Atlanta , Georgia

[1] John Stith Pemberton Freemason on the homepage of the Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon "A Few Famous Masons" (accessed May 18, 2016)