Brooke Martin
Asa Griggs Candler, born in 1851, was one of eleven children. He had a challenging start in life, with little money and no job when he moved to Atlanta. He worked as an apprentice to doctors and earned a meagre living, which led him to seek a new career path. He eventually found work as a druggist and created a successful patent medicine business. In 1888, he bought the formula for Coca-Cola, a sweet, carbonated drink, and founded the Coca-Cola Company in 1892. He became a prominent businessman, philanthropist, and mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, but his early life was marked by financial struggles and uncertainty.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | December 30, 1851 |
| Education | Ended at 10 years old |
| First Job | Apprentice to Doctors Best and Kirkpatrick |
| Coca-Cola Purchase Year | 1888 |
| Coca-Cola Company Founding Year | 1892 |
| Mayoral Term | 1916-1919 |
| First Wife | Lucy Elizabeth Howard |
| Year of First Wife's Death | 1919 |
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What You'll Learn
- Early life: Asa Candler had little money and no job when he moved to Atlanta
- Career beginnings: He worked as an apprentice to doctors, earning a meagre income
- Coca-Cola: He bought the recipe for $2,300 and founded the Coca-Cola Company in 1892
- Philanthropy: He donated $1 million to Emory University and gave $8 million over his lifetime
- Mayoral duties: He was elected mayor of Atlanta in 1916 to fix the city's finances and led recovery efforts after the great fire of 1917
Early life: Asa Candler had little money and no job when he moved to Atlanta
Asa Griggs Candler was born on December 30, 1851, in Villa Rica, Georgia. He was one of eleven children born to Martha and Samuel Charles Candler, a prosperous merchant and planter, and member of the South Carolina legislature. Candler's formal education began shortly before his fifth birthday and ended when he was ten years old.
After his education ended, Candler became an apprentice to Doctors Best and Kirkpatrick. However, his earnings as an apprentice were meagre, so he decided to move to Atlanta. With very little money and no job, Candler went from drug store to drug store in Atlanta asking for work. He was eventually hired by George Jefferson Howard, the father of his future wife, Lucy Elizabeth Howard.
Candler learned the trade of "prescriptionist" and went into the pharmacy business in Atlanta. He became a successful manufacturer of patent medicines. In 1888, he sampled a drink called Coca-Cola, which was being advertised as a headache cure. Intrigued by the taste, he bought the rights to make the drink from its creator, John Stith Pemberton, for a rumoured amount of $2,300.
Candler marketed Coca-Cola as a soft drink, removing the cocaine from the original formula due to growing concerns about its addictive properties. Using innovative advertising and distribution methods, he founded the Coca-Cola Company in 1892 and began distributing the drink nationwide by 1895. The success of Coca-Cola made Candler one of the wealthiest individuals in Atlanta.
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Career beginnings: He worked as an apprentice to doctors, earning a meagre income
Asa Griggs Candler was born on December 30, 1851, in Villa Rica, Georgia. He was one of eleven children born to Martha and Samuel Charles Candler, a merchant and property owner. Candler's early life was marked by a strong work ethic and religious beliefs instilled by his parents.
Candler's career began as an apprentice to Doctors Best and Kirkpatrick, where he acquired medical knowledge through various tasks. However, his earnings as an apprentice were meagre, prompting him to move to Atlanta in search of better opportunities. He faced challenges in Atlanta as well, arriving with little money and no job prospects. He persevered and eventually found employment in a drug store owned by George Jefferson Howard, the father of his future wife, Lucy Elizabeth Howard.
During his time in the pharmacy business, Candler worked as a prescriptionist and gained expertise in the field. He later became a successful manufacturer of patent medicines, establishing himself in the industry. In the late 1880s, Candler sampled a concoction called Coca-Cola, created by John Stith Pemberton, a pharmacist he had worked with previously. Pemberton's health was declining, and he lacked the energy to promote his product effectively. Intrigued by the unique taste and potential of Coca-Cola, Candler decided to invest in it.
Candler's decision to purchase the rights to Coca-Cola from Pemberton for a rumoured amount of $2,300 marked a significant turning point in his career. He recognised the drink's appeal and, through innovative advertising and distribution strategies, successfully marketed it as a soft drink. Candler also removed the alkaloid cocaine from the original formula due to growing concerns about its addictive nature. By 1892, he had founded the Coca-Cola Company and began distributing Coca-Cola nationwide in the United States.
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Coca-Cola: He bought the recipe for $2,300 and founded the Coca-Cola Company in 1892
In 1888, Asa Griggs Candler, a druggist and pharmacist, bought the recipe for Coca-Cola from John Stith Pemberton for $2,300. Coca-Cola was a sweet, carbonated drink derived from brewed coca leaves, caffeine, carbonated water, and sugar. It was advertised as a "brain tonic and Intellectual Soda Fountain Beverage" and a headache cure.
Candler founded the Coca-Cola Company in 1892 and developed it into a major company. He was intrigued by the drink and believed in its potential, noting that it had a distinct taste and broad appeal. In 1893, he trademarked the brand and distributed the first dividends to the company's shareholders. By 1895, the company was distributing Coca-Cola nationwide in the United States, and in 1899, the first export was sent to Cuba.
Candler's success with Coca-Cola was due in part to his innovative advertising and distribution methods. In 1891, he invested $11,000 of his early profits into marketing, a significant sum at the time. He created calendars, serving trays, and signs emblazoned with the Coca-Cola logo, and distributed coupons for free glasses of the drink. By 1899, 97% of Atlanta residents could instantly recognize the Coca-Cola logo.
In addition to his work with Coca-Cola, Candler was also a successful banker and real estate developer. He developed the Druid Hills neighbourhood in Atlanta and constructed several buildings to house the growing Coca-Cola offices, including the Candler Building, which became Atlanta's tallest building when it opened in 1906. He was also a prominent philanthropist, donating significant sums to Emory University and other projects sponsored by his Methodist denomination.
In 1916, Candler was elected as the 41st mayor of Atlanta and stepped down from his day-to-day management of the Coca-Cola Company. He faced challenges during his mayoral term, including a devastating fire in 1917 and the entry of the United States into World War I. In 1919, he gave most of the stock in the Coca-Cola Company to his children, who sold their shares to a consortium of investors. Candler remained active in other business ventures, including banking, but suffered a significant financial loss during the stock market crash of 1929.
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Philanthropy: He donated $1 million to Emory University and gave $8 million over his lifetime
Asa Griggs Candler was an American business tycoon and politician who founded the Coca-Cola Company in 1892. He was also a prominent philanthropist, endowing numerous schools and universities. Emory University was one of Candler's main interests throughout his life. He sent his sons to Emory College and served as a trustee for nearly thirty years.
Candler's best-known act of philanthropy was his donation of $1 million to Emory University to defray the costs of establishing the university in Atlanta as a Methodist institution. He also paid to relocate the university from Oxford, Georgia, to Atlanta. Over his lifetime, his gifts to the university totalled about $8 million. The Candler School of Theology at Emory was named in honour of the Candler brothers.
In addition to his philanthropy, Candler was also a successful real estate developer. He developed the Druid Hills neighbourhood on the outskirts of Atlanta and built the Candler Building, which was the tallest building in Atlanta when it opened in 1906. He also served as the 41st mayor of Atlanta from 1916 to 1919. During his tenure, he faced challenges such as the great fire of 1917, which consumed more than 1,500 homes, and the entry of the United States into World War I. Candler played a crucial role in facilitating the construction of Camp Gordon, a military training facility, by making large personal loans to fund the necessary water and sewer services for the site.
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Mayoral duties: He was elected mayor of Atlanta in 1916 to fix the city's finances and led recovery efforts after the great fire of 1917
In 1916, Asa Griggs Candler was elected mayor of Atlanta, taking office in 1917. He was tasked with fixing the city's finances, which were in a state of chaos. Candler stepped up to the challenge and successfully balanced the city budget.
During his tenure as mayor, Atlanta faced a significant disaster in 1917, known as the Great Atlanta Fire, which destroyed 1,500 homes. Candler played a crucial role in leading the city's recovery efforts. He coordinated the rebuilding process, demonstrating his dedication to the city's well-being.
The same year, the United States entered World War I, and Candler made significant personal financial contributions to facilitate the construction of water and sewer services for Camp Gordon, a military training facility in Atlanta. This ensured that the city could play its part in the war effort.
Candler's time as mayor showcased his commitment to public service and the improvement of Atlanta's infrastructure. He handed over control of most of his business enterprises, including the Coca-Cola Company, to his children, demonstrating his dedication to his mayoral duties.
In addition to his financial acumen and leadership during crises, Candler was also known for his philanthropy. He made substantial donations to various causes, including a personal check for $1 million to establish Emory University in Atlanta as a Methodist institution.
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Frequently asked questions
Asa Griggs Candler was born in 1851 and was one of eleven children. His family was prosperous, but when he moved to Atlanta as a young man, he had very little money and no job. He went from drug store to drug store asking for work and was eventually hired by his future father-in-law.
Candler was a successful pharmacist and businessman, but he also faced setbacks. He bought the Coca-Cola recipe in 1888, but the drink contained cocaine, which was later outlawed. He had to remove the cocaine from the formula, and the drink faced further controversies over its healthfulness.
Candler's first wife, Lucy, died in 1919. The same year, he became engaged to a wealthy New Orleans woman but broke off the engagement and was sued for breach of promise. His second marriage, to Mae Ragin, was also unhappy, and he initiated divorce proceedings.
Yes, Candler was elected mayor of Atlanta in 1916 to sort out the city's chaotic finances. During his time in office, he also had to deal with the Great Fire of 1917, which destroyed more than 1,500 homes, and the entry of the United States into World War I.
