Some Coca-Cola HistoryHistory Button
Picture of John PembertonCoca-cola was invented by a Dr. John Stith Pemberton in 1886. It was the doctors second drink with coca leaves and the kola nut as a basis. The doctors first coca leaf drink , Pemberton's French Wine Coca, was actually an immitation of Vin Mariani, a coca-wine drink invented by Angelo Mariani in 1883. Although there were several immitators of the French Coca-Wine, Pemberton's formula was superior. He was actually quoted saying "I believe that I am now producing a better preparation than that of Mariani."
Pemberton was not very good health, not to mention he was a morphine adict. So in 1887 he begain to sell parts of the company off. On July 8th he sold a third of the company to Willis Venable and another third to George Lowndes. Neither man had the time to market, make or sell Coke so they sold their portion of the company to Woolfolk Walker and his younger sister Margaret Dozier. Dozier owned two-ninths and Walker four-ninths of the formula rights. Now here is where it gets interesting. Venable somehow disposed of his portion of Coca-cola twice. During some time in 1887, he gave his share of Coca-cola to Joseph Jacobs, owner of Jacobs' Pharmacy. In early October, 1887 Pemberton ran a blind ad looking for additional investors.
WANTED: AN acceptable party with $2,000.00 to purchase one-half interest in a very profitable and well-established manufacturing business, absolutely no risk, and guaranteed a 50 per cent profit on investment, with possibilities of much large profits and rare opportunity to right party.
He was able to get three investors with this ad. He took $2,000 from each of them. Their names were J.C. Mayfield, A.O. Murphey and E.H. Bloodworth. In late Decemb ...