Biography of Caleb Davis Bradham – Inventor of Pepsi-Cola

Caleb Davis Bradham (27 May 1867–19 Feb. 1934), founder of Pepsi-Cola and pharmacist, was born at Chinquapin, Duplin County, the son of George Washington and Julia McCann Bradham.

He attended several North Carolina academies before entering The University of North Carolina in 1886. After three years he left to study medicine at the University of Maryland.

Unfortunately, a family crisis forced Bradham to drop his pursuit in medicine and return home to North Carolina. He returned home to teach in the Vance Academy in New Bern, a private school run by Appleton and Augusta Oaksmith.

Bradham continued to be interested in medicine, and after two years he went back to Maryland and entered the College of Pharmacy. Upon completion of those studies, he purchased a drug store in 1891 in his hometown of New Bern, North Carolina, and established "Bradham's Pharmacy," where the Pepsi-Cola story began.

Caleb Bradham experimenting with combinations of spices, juices, syrups and he trying to create a refreshing new drink to serve his customers. He invented the beverage known around the world as Pepsi-Cola.

In 1893, he sold it as “Brad’s Drink”, claiming among other things that it was a “cure for dyspepsia.” The “Brad’s Drink,” made from a mix of sugar, water, caramel, lemon oil, nutmeg, and other natural additives, became an overnight sensation.

In 1898, Mr. Bradham purchased the name “Pep Cola” from a company that had gone out of business, subsequently changing the name of his creation to Pepsi-cola and seeking a patent on the name in 1902.

In late 1902, the Pepsi-Cola Company was formed due to the rising popularity and demand for the Pepsi-Cola Syrup with none other than Caleb Bradham as the first president. The company became a corporation under the laws of North Carolina. It began in the back room of the drug store and was an immediate local success.

He mixed his syrup, packaged it, and went out to build sales. He was a popular man and a superb salesman, and it was not long before his drink became a nationally known product. He franchised other territories in rapid succession until, by the end of 1910, there were at least three hundred bottlers spread over twenty-four states.

Hard times fell on Bradham and the Pepsi-Cola franchise during WWI. This was due to the high price and severe rationing of sugar. Pepsi Cola officially was bankrupt as of May 31, 1923, and its assets were sold to Craven Holding Corporation for $30,000.

Biography of Caleb Davis Bradham – Inventor of Pepsi-Cola

Caleb Davis Bradham and Pepsi-Cola

Caleb Davis Bradham was born in May 27, 1867. He grew up in Chinquapin, a tiny farm community in Duplin County, North Carolina. He attended Clements, School, Wallace and Kings Mountains Military Institute in North Carolina.

In 1892, he opened a drug store called Bradham’s Pharmacy. Like many pharmacists at the turn of the 19th century, he operated a soda fountain in his drugstore. He founded it as a fun to mix delicious a soft drink as it was to make medicines. His soda fountain grew popular as townspeople gathered to socialize. Like many drugstore of the day, Bradham’s was more than a dispenser of patent medicines.

Soon Bradham concocted a dink all his own. He wanted to create something that tasted good and was also healthy.

 ‘Brad’s drink created in the summer of 1893, was later renamed Pepsi Cola in 1898. According to a document signed by Bradham, his formula for Pepsi-Cola consisted of sugar, water, caramel, lime juice, phosphoric acid, alcohol and oils (lemon, orange, cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander, and petit grain).
Caleb Davis Bradham and Pepsi-Cola

The invention of Pepsi Cola

Caleb Bradham, licensed pharmacist and proprietor of Bradham’s Prescription Pharmacy, thought someone ought to create a good tasting, refreshing drink without then harmful dugs contained in many fountain beverages.

In 1893, he began experimenting with combinations of spices, juices, and syrups trying to create a refreshing new drink to serve his customers.

Cola flavored beverages already existed – among them Coca-Cola - but Bradham wanted to develop his own formula, omitting the caffeine and cocaine.

He succeeded beyond all expectations because he invented the beverage known around the world as Pepsi-Cola in the summer of 1893.

Caleb Bradham creation, a unique mixture of kola nut extract, vanilla and rare oils, became so popular his customers named it "Brad's Drink."

The name ‘Brad’s Drink’ didn’t convey the nature so the beverage and he decided to rename it "Pepsi-Cola,” in 1898 and advertised his new soft drink. People responded, and sales of Pepsi-Cola started to grow, convincing him that he should form a company to market the new beverage.

In 1898, Caleb Bradham wisely bought the trade name ‘Pep Cola’ for $100 from a competitor from Newark, New Jersey that had gone burke.

By 1900 Pepsi-Cola had become so popular, that Bradham created the Pepsi-Cola Company.

According to a document signed by Bradham, his formula for Pepsi-Cola consisted of sugar, water, caramel, lime juice, phosphoric acid, alcohol and oils (lemon, orange, cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander and petit grain).
The invention of Pepsi Cola