**John Stith Pemberton:**
– Born on July 8, 1831, in Knoxville, Georgia
– Pharmacist and inventor of Coca-Cola
– Served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War
– Developed Coca-Cola in 1886
– Sold the rights to Coca-Cola before his death in 1888
**Coca-Cola’s History:**
– Invented as a patent medicine
– Originally contained cocaine
– Marketed as a brain tonic and nerve stimulant
– Recipe changed over the years
– Coca-Cola Company was founded in 1892
**Coca-Cola’s Popularity:**
– Sold in over 200 countries
– One of the most recognized brands globally
– Coca-Cola products consumed 1.9 billion times per day
– Offers a variety of beverages beyond the original formula
– Known for its marketing campaigns and iconic logo
**Coca-Cola’s Impact:**
– Influential in shaping modern advertising
– Historical ties to American culture
– Associated with various sporting events and sponsorships
– Involved in philanthropic efforts worldwide
– Criticized for health concerns related to sugar content
**Pemberton’s Life and Legacy:**
– Born on July 8, 1831, in Knoxville, Georgia
– Earned a medical degree and excelled in chemistry
– Served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War
– Developed Coca-Cola in 1886
– Faced financial difficulties and sold the rights to Coca-Cola before his death in 1888
**Further Reading:**
– ‘For God, Country, and Coca-Cola’ by Mark Pendergrast
– ‘Coke’s the One: The Centennial of the Ideal Brain Tonic’ by B.S. Schoenberg
– Covers topics such as deaths from cancer in Georgia
– Explores the role of Freemasons in American history
– Discusses the impact of inventors from Georgia
John Stith Pemberton (July 8, 1831 – August 16, 1888) was an American pharmacist and Confederate States Army veteran who is best known as the inventor of Coca-Cola. In May 1886, he developed an early version of a beverage that would later become Coca-Cola, but sold its rights to the drink shortly before his death in 1888.
John Pemberton | |
|---|---|
 Pemberton, before 1888 | |
| Born | July 8, 1831 Knoxville, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | August 16, 1888 (aged 57) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Resting place | Old City Cemetery |
| Nationality | American/Confederate |
| Education | Reform Medical College of Georgia |
| Occupation | Biochemist |
| Known for | Inventor of Coca-Cola |
| Spouse | Ann Eliza Clifford Lewis |
| Children | Charles Nay Pemberton |
| Military career | |
| Service/ | Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | Third Cavalry Battalion of the Georgia State Guard |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
He suffered from a sabre wound sustained in April 1865, during the Battle of Columbus. His efforts to control his chronic pain led to morphine addiction. In an attempt to curb his addiction he began to experiment with various painkillers and toxins. The development of an earlier beverage blending alcohol and cocaine led to the recipe that later was adapted to make Coca-Cola.