Brooke Martin
Asa Griggs Candler, founder of the Coca-Cola Company, was born in Villa Rica, Georgia, in 1851. He was one of eleven children, raised with a strong work ethic and religious beliefs. Candler's formal education began before he turned five and ended when he was ten years old. He had the opportunity to attend Emory College but instead chose to pursue a career as a druggist, which did not require formal education. Candler moved to Cartersville, Georgia, in 1870, where he apprenticed under Doctors Best and Kirkpatrick and continued his studies in Latin and Greek at Reverend S. G. Hillyer's Male School.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | December 30, 1851 |
| Parents | Martha and Samuel Charles Candler |
| Place of Birth | Villa Rica, Georgia |
| Education | Reverend S. G. Hillyer's Male School |
| Apprentice | Doctors Best and Kirkpatrick |
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What You'll Learn
Asa Candler's early life and education
Asa Griggs Candler, the founder of the Coca-Cola Company, was born on December 30, 1851, in Villa Rica, Georgia. His parents, Martha and Samuel Charles Candler, were a merchant and property owner, respectively, and raised eleven children, including Asa and his brother Warren Akin Candler. Samuel Charles Candler was also a member of the legislature of South Carolina and fought in the Creek War of 1836.
Asa Candler's formal education began shortly before his fifth birthday and ended when he was ten years old. He could have attended Emory College for a year as a sub-freshman but chose to let his brother Warren go in his place because of Warren's interest in the ministry. Knowing that he had an interest in the medical field but lacked the funds for medical school, Candler decided to pursue a career as a druggist, which did not require formal education. He apprenticed under Doctors Best and Kirkpatrick, who had a joint apothecary on West Main Street, and continued his education under the direction of Reverend S. G. Hillyer's Male School, where he studied Latin and Greek and read medical books.
In 1870, Candler moved to Cartersville from Villa Rica to become a prescriptionist. He slept in the back room of the store while apprenticing under Doctors Best and Kirkpatrick for three years. After completing his apprenticeship, Candler moved to Atlanta and worked for Mr. George Howard, the father of his future wife, Lucy Elizabeth Howard. He eventually purchased one of Mr. Howard's drug stores and began his entrepreneurial career.
In Atlanta in 1887 or 1888, Candler met John Stith Pemberton, a chemist or surgeon and pharmacist who had developed a sweet, carbonated drink called Coca-Cola. Intrigued by the beverage, Candler bought the formula and rights to Coca-Cola from Pemberton for a sum rumored to be between $238.98 and $2,300. He founded the Coca-Cola Company in 1892 and developed it into a major company, using innovative advertising and distribution methods to market the product as a soft drink.
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Candler's career as a pharmacist
Asa Griggs Candler, born in 1851, was an American business tycoon and politician who also had a career as a pharmacist. He is best known for founding the Coca-Cola Company and serving as the mayor of Atlanta from 1916 to 1919.
After completing his apprenticeship, Candler moved to Atlanta in search of new opportunities. He approached various drug stores in the city, seeking employment. Eventually, he was hired by George Jefferson Howard, the father of his future wife, Lucy Elizabeth Howard. Candler worked hard and, over time, was able to purchase one of Mr. Howard's drug stores, marking the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey.
In Atlanta, Candler met Dr. John Pemberton, the original inventor of Coca-Cola. Pemberton, a surgeon and pharmacist, had created a sweet, carbonated drink derived from brewed coca leaves, caffeine, carbonated water, and sugar. Recognizing the potential of Coca-Cola as a soft drink, Candler bought the formula and rights to the beverage from Pemberton in 1887 or 1888. The amount he paid is rumoured to be around $2,300, though some sources state it was $238.98 (equivalent to $8,363 in 2024).
Candler founded the Coca-Cola Company in 1892 and developed it into a major enterprise. He marketed Coca-Cola as a soft drink using innovative advertising and distribution methods. He also removed the alkaloid cocaine from Pemberton's original formula due to growing concerns about its addictive properties. By 1895, the company was distributing Coca-Cola nationwide in the United States, and Candler had successfully transformed it into a household brand.
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How he founded the Coca-Cola Company
Born in 1851 in Villa Rica, Georgia, Asa Griggs Candler was one of eleven children of a prosperous merchant and planter. He learned the trade of "prescriptionist" and went into the pharmacy business in Atlanta. He was also a banker and real estate developer.
In 1888, Candler bought the rights to make Coca-Cola from John Stith Pemberton for $238.98 (equivalent to $8,363 in 2024). The drink was derived from brewed coca leaves, caffeine, carbonated water, and sugar. Recognizing its potential as a soft drink, Candler founded the Coca-Cola Company in 1892 and developed it into a major company.
Candler used innovative advertising and distribution methods to market Coca-Cola. He trademarked the brand in 1893 and distributed the first dividends to shareholders that same year. By 1895, the company was distributing Coca-Cola nationwide in the United States, and in 1899, it began exporting to Cuba. To meet the growing demand, Candler opened syrup manufacturing plants in Dallas, Texas, Chicago, Illinois, and Los Angeles, California.
In addition to his business ventures, Candler was also known for his philanthropy. He donated $1 million and 75 acres of land to help establish Emory University in Atlanta as a Methodist institution. Over his lifetime, his gifts to the university totaled about $8 million. He was also elected as the reform mayor of Atlanta in 1916 to sort out the city's fiscal chaos. During his tenure, he handed over control of most of his business enterprises, including the Coca-Cola Company, to his children.
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Philanthropy and donations to Emory University
Asa Griggs Candler, founder of the Coca-Cola Company, was a prominent philanthropist and educational donor. He donated a significant amount of money and land to Emory University, a Methodist institution in Atlanta.
Candler's wealth allowed him to make substantial donations, often to projects associated with his Methodist denomination. His most well-known act of philanthropy was his donation of $1 million and 75 acres of land to establish Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. This donation was made in the form of a personal check, known as the "Million Dollar Letter," and helped to defray the costs of creating the university. Emory University was a special project for Candler, who served as its board chair until his death in 1929.
The School of Theology at Emory University was the first beneficiary of Candler's donation, opening its doors soon after the famous letter. Candler's gifts to the university totaled approximately $8 million over his lifetime, and the School of Theology was named in honour of him and his brother, Warren Akin Candler, a Methodist bishop who also advised him on his philanthropic endeavours.
The Candler family's association with Emory University continued through the generations. Candler's oldest son, Charles Howard Candler, served as chairman of the board of trustees of Emory University, and the family estate, Callanwolde, has been adapted for use as a fine arts centre. The family's impact on the university and its development is a lasting legacy.
In addition to his donations to Emory University, Candler also contributed to other educational and civic projects. He paid to relocate the university from Oxford, Georgia, to Atlanta and was instrumental in the establishment of Camp Gordon, a military training facility, by providing loans for the construction of water and sewer services to the site. Candler's philanthropy left a significant impact on the city of Atlanta and its educational institutions, with his name commemorated in various locations across the city.
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Asa Candler's family and personal life
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 property owner. Candler's formal education began shortly before his fifth birthday and ended when he was ten years old. He had the option of attending Emory College for a year as a sub-freshman but chose to let his brother Warren Akin Candler, a Methodist bishop, take his place.
Candler moved to Cartersville from Villa Rica in 1870 to become a prescriptionist. He apprenticed under Doctors Best and Kirkpatrick, who had a joint apothecary on West Main Street. He also continued his formal education under the direction of Reverend S. G. Hillyer's Male School, where he studied Latin and Greek and read medical books.
In 1887, Candler purchased the formula for Coca-Cola from John Pemberton for $2,300. He founded the Coca-Cola Company in 1892 and built it into a major company. He became a millionaire and devoted much of his wealth to philanthropy. He donated $1 million and 75 acres of land to help establish Emory University in Atlanta as a Methodist institution. Over his lifetime, his gifts to the university totalled about $8 million.
Candler was married to Lucy Elizabeth Howard, and they had four sons and a daughter. His oldest son, Charles Howard Candler, was chairman of the board of trustees of Emory University. His second son, Asa G. Candler Jr., became a real-estate developer. His only daughter, Lucy, married a banker named Henry Heinz. His third son, Walter T. Candler, was a businessman, philanthropist, and horse sportsman. His youngest son, William Candler, was a local financier and president of the Biltmore Corporation.
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Frequently asked questions
Asa Griggs Candler received his early education in Villa Rica, Georgia, where he was born. His formal education began when he was almost five years old and ended when he was ten. He later moved to Cartersville, Georgia, where he apprenticed under Doctors Best and Kirkpatrick, who ran a joint apothecary on West Main Street. He also continued his studies at Reverend S. G. Hillyer's Male School, where he enjoyed learning Latin and Greek and reading medical books.
Asa Candler could have attended Emory College for a year as a sub-freshman, but he chose to let his brother Warren go in his place because of Warren's interest in the ministry. Asa Candler pursued a career as a druggist, which did not require formal education, and moved to Atlanta, where he worked for his future father-in-law, George Jefferson Howard.
After leaving school, Asa Candler moved to Atlanta, where he worked in various drug stores before being hired by George Jefferson Howard, his future father-in-law. He also became an apprentice to Doctors Best and Kirkpatrick, training as a prescriptionist. In 1887 or 1888, he bought the formula for Coca-Cola from John Pemberton, founding the Coca-Cola Company in 1892. He became a successful businessman and philanthropist, known for his donations to Emory University.
