Caleb Bradham | |
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 Bradham,c. 1900 | |
| Born | Caleb Eldsworth Bradham (1867-05-27)May 27, 1867 |
| Died | February 19, 1934(1934-02-19) (aged 66) New Bern, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Education | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Maryland, Baltimore |
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| Known for | Inventor ofPepsi andPepsi-Cola Company |
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Caleb Davis Bradham (May 27, 1867 – February 19, 1934) was an Americanpharmacist who invented the soft drinkPepsi.
Bradham was born Caleb Davis Bradham on May 27, 1867, inChinquapin, North Carolina, to George Washington Bradham, and Julia McCann Bradham. Bradham was ofEnglish andScots-Irish descent.[1]
He graduated from theUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a member of thePhilanthropic Society, and attended theUniversity of Maryland School of Medicine.
Circa 1890, he dropped out of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, owing to his father's business going bankrupt. After returning to North Carolina, he was a public school teacher for about a year, and soon thereafter opened a drug store inNew Bern named the "Bradham Drug Company" that, like many other drug stores of the time, also housed asoda fountain. Middle Street and Pollock Street in downtown New Bern is where Bradham, in 1893, invented the recipe—a blend ofkola nut extract,vanilla, and "rare oils"—for what was initially known as "Brad's Drink," but on August 28, 1898, was renamed Pepsi-Cola.[2] Bradham named his drink after a combination of the terms "dyspepsia" and "cola", intending to market his drink as having digestive benefits. His assistant James Henry King was the first to taste the new drink.
On December 24, 1902, thePepsi-Cola Company wasincorporated in North Carolina, with Bradham as the president, and on June 16, 1903, the first Pepsi-Colatrademark was registered. Also in 1903, he moved his Pepsi-Cola production out of his drug store and into a rented building nearby. In 1905, Bradham began selling Pepsi-Cola in six-ounce bottles (up until this time he sold Pepsi-Cola as a syrup only), and awarded two franchises to North Carolina bottlers.
In addition to running his drug store, he served as the president of the People's Bank of New Bern and was a chairman of theCraven County Board of Commissioners. At one point he was even suggested as a candidate forgovernor of North Carolina. He also served as an officer in thenaval reserve for 25 years; he was named a lieutenant in theNorth Carolina Naval Militia, was promoted to commander in 1904, and to captain in 1913. He retired as a rear admiral. Additionally, in 1914, he was appointed bySecretary of the NavyJosephus Daniels to the General Naval Militia Board.[citation needed]
At the peak of success, Bradham had authorized Pepsi-Cola franchises in over 24 states; however, on May 31, 1923, Bradham and his Pepsi-Cola Company declared bankruptcy. The major factor for Bradham's business failure was the price ofsugar immediately followingWorld War I, when prices went up to 28 cents per pound (it was three cents per pound pre-war), and Bradham had purchased a large amount of sugar at that price but the price of sugar nosedived soon after he purchased it. The assets of his company were sold to the Craven Holding Company for $30,000.[3] After declaring bankruptcy, Bradham returned to operating his drug store.
On January 4, 1901, Bradham married Charity Credle in New Bern, North Carolina. He owned theSlover-Bradham House from 1908 to 1934.[4] The house was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 1973.[5]
He died on February 19, 1934, at New Bern,Craven County, North Carolina.[6]
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