Johann Jacob Schweppe (/ˈʃvɛpə/ SHVEP, German: [ˈjoːhan ˈjaːkɔp ˈʃvɛpə]; 16 March 1740 – 18 November 1821) was a German watchmaker and amateur scientist who developed the first practical process to manufacture bottled carbonated mineral water and began selling the world's first bottled soft drink,[1][2] His company, Schweppes, regards Priestley as "the father of our industry".[3]

Johann Jacob Schweppe
Born(1740-03-16)16 March 1740
Died18 November 1821(1821-11-18) (aged 81)
Occupations
  • Watchmaker
  • jeweler
  • scientist
  • beverage company founder
Years active1765−1821
Known forManufacturing carbonated mineral water, company founder
Notable workSchweppes founder

Biography

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Schweppe was born in Witzenhausen in the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel. He moved to Geneva in 1765 to work as a watchmaker and jeweler. He founded the Schweppes company there in 1783 to produce carbonated water.[4]

At the time Schweppe was developing these products, the addition of carbon dioxide to water was considered to have medicinal properties. In 1792, he moved to London to develop the business there, but it was not successful and failed in 1795. However, Erasmus Darwin, the grandfather of Charles Darwin, began talking up the beverage, which started to become popular. Schweppe returned to Geneva and died in 1821. In 1831, King William IV of the United Kingdom adopted the beverage, enabling the use of the famous "by appointment to". Subsequently, carbonated water became very popular.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Schweppes Holdings Limited". Royalwarrant.org. Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021. Schweppes was founded in 1783 [..] the world's first ever soft drink, Schweppes soda water, was born. based on a process discovered by Joseph Priestley in 1767.
  2. ^ "The great soda-water shake up". The Atlantic. October 2014. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  3. ^ LaMoreaux, Philip E. (2012). Springs and Bottled Waters of the World: Ancient History, Source, Occurrence, Quality and Use. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 135.
  4. ^ Morgenthaler, Jeffrey (2014). Bar Book: Elements of Cocktail Technique. Chronicle Books. p. 54. ISBN 9781452130279.
  5. ^ "nous sommes en 1783 - Archives de la Tribune de Geneve". Archives.tdg.ch. Retrieved 2011-08-04.[permanent dead link]