James Vernor
Encyclopedia
James Vernor, Sr. was an American
pharmacist
and druggist who invented Vernor's
ginger ale in 1866.
and moved with his parents to Detroit, Michigan
in his youth. While employed at Higby and Sterns' Drug Store in Detroit, Vernor began experimenting with ginger ale
. With the emergence of the American Civil War
in 1862, he enlisted and served with the 4th Michigan Cavalry
until 1865, becoming a Second Lieutenant before being discharged.
When he returned from the war, Vernor opened a drug store of his own on Woodward Avenue, at the corner of Clifford Street, and sold his ginger ale at its soda fountain advertising it as Vernor's Ginger Ale
.
According to company legend, when Vernor left to serve in the war, he had stored his experimental ginger ale syrup base in an oak cask. After returning four years later, he opened the keg and found the drink had been changed by the aging process. He declared it "Deliciously different," which became the drink's motto. In a 1936 interview, however, his son, James Vernor Jr., suggested that the formula was not developed until after the war. This was confirmed in a 1962 interview with former company president, James Vernor Davis. According to the 1911 trademark application on "Vernor's" as a name for ginger ale and extract, Vernors did not enter commerce until 1880, five years after Vernor returned from the war.
In 1896 Vernor and his son, James Vernor, II., closed the drugstore and together opened a new soda fountain on Woodward Avenue south of Jefferson Avenue near the riverfront ferry docks, and organized a manufacturing plant. By 1915 had expanded operations to include a bottling company
, which widely manufactured Vernor's Ginger Ale.
Vernor was one of the original members of the Michigan Board of Pharmacy, formed in 1887, and held License No. 1 throughout his career. Vernor also served on the Detroit City Council
for 25 years.
In 1927 Vernor died in Grosse Ile, Michigan at age 84 from pneumonia
and influenza
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pharmacist
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
and druggist who invented Vernor's
Vernor's
Vernors ginger ale is America's oldest surviving soft drink. It was created in 1866 by James Vernor, a Detroit pharmacist.- History :Although Vernors is the oldest surviving ginger ale sold in the United States, there were a number of brands of ginger ale and ginger beer sold in commerce prior to...
ginger ale in 1866.
Biography
Vernor was born in Albany, New YorkAlbany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
and moved with his parents to Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
in his youth. While employed at Higby and Sterns' Drug Store in Detroit, Vernor began experimenting with ginger ale
Ginger ale
Ginger ale is a carbonated soft drink flavored with ginger. Dr. Thomas Cantrell, an American apothecary and surgeon, claimed to have invented ginger ale and marketed it with beverage manufacturer Grattan and Company. Grattan embossed the slogan "The Original Makers of Ginger Ale" on its bottles...
. With the emergence of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in 1862, he enlisted and served with the 4th Michigan Cavalry
4th Michigan Cavalry
4th Michigan Cavalry was a regiment of cavalry in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was noted as being the regiment that captured the fleeing President of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson Davis, as the Confederacy collapsed in the spring of 1865.-Service:The regiment was...
until 1865, becoming a Second Lieutenant before being discharged.
When he returned from the war, Vernor opened a drug store of his own on Woodward Avenue, at the corner of Clifford Street, and sold his ginger ale at its soda fountain advertising it as Vernor's Ginger Ale
Vernor's
Vernors ginger ale is America's oldest surviving soft drink. It was created in 1866 by James Vernor, a Detroit pharmacist.- History :Although Vernors is the oldest surviving ginger ale sold in the United States, there were a number of brands of ginger ale and ginger beer sold in commerce prior to...
.
According to company legend, when Vernor left to serve in the war, he had stored his experimental ginger ale syrup base in an oak cask. After returning four years later, he opened the keg and found the drink had been changed by the aging process. He declared it "Deliciously different," which became the drink's motto. In a 1936 interview, however, his son, James Vernor Jr., suggested that the formula was not developed until after the war. This was confirmed in a 1962 interview with former company president, James Vernor Davis. According to the 1911 trademark application on "Vernor's" as a name for ginger ale and extract, Vernors did not enter commerce until 1880, five years after Vernor returned from the war.
In 1896 Vernor and his son, James Vernor, II., closed the drugstore and together opened a new soda fountain on Woodward Avenue south of Jefferson Avenue near the riverfront ferry docks, and organized a manufacturing plant. By 1915 had expanded operations to include a bottling company
Bottling company
A bottling company is a commercial enterprise whose output is the bottling of beverages for distribution.Many bottling companies are franchisees of corporations such as Coca-Cola and PepsiCo who distribute the beverage in a specific geographic region...
, which widely manufactured Vernor's Ginger Ale.
Vernor was one of the original members of the Michigan Board of Pharmacy, formed in 1887, and held License No. 1 throughout his career. Vernor also served on the Detroit City Council
Detroit City Council
The Detroit City Council is the legislative body of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The City Council consists of nine members elected for a four-year term in a single election conducted on an at-large and non-partisan basis...
for 25 years.
In 1927 Vernor died in Grosse Ile, Michigan at age 84 from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
and influenza
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
.