Pemberton’s Last Days
Unfortunately, he died before he was able to see what he created. After he was diagnosed with stomach cancer, the physician started selling the company piece by piece and only owned a third of it by the end. By this point, Asa G Candler, an investor, and physician was one of the major owners, and Pemberton left his share to his son.
Photo by Granger / Shutterstock
Pemberton spent the last days of his life in his lab, obsessively trying to find ways to improve the drink. Following his death on August 16th, 1888, fights began between investors like Candler and Charles Pemberton. By 1890, Candler won control over the company, when Charles Pemberton sold his share to him. More about that later.