Asa Griggs Candler

Asa Griggs Candler Sr.
Asa Griggs Candler Sr.
Born	Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age; Villa Rica, Georgia, U.S.
Died	March 12, 1929 (aged 77); Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, politician
Years active	Late 19th century–early 20th century
Known for	Founder of The Coca-Cola Company; Mayor of Atlanta (1916–1919)

Asa Griggs Candler Sr. (December 30, 1851 – March 12, 1929) was an influential American entrepreneur and political figure who acquired the Coca-Cola formula in 1888 from chemist John Stith Pemberton in Atlanta, Georgia, for $238.98. He established the Coca-Cola Company in 1892 and expanded it into a leading enterprise.

As a distinguished civic official in Atlanta, Candler held the office of the city's 41st mayor from 1916 until 1919. The original location of what became Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was known as Candler Field in his honor, as is Atlanta’s Candler Park. During his leadership at Coca-Cola, he commissioned the erection of the Candler Building in Atlanta and other notable structures in Kansas City (later known as the Western Auto Building), New York City, and Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.

Family

Asa Griggs Candler entered the world on December 30, 1851, in Villa Rica, Georgia. His parents, Martha and Samuel Charles Candler, were engaged in commerce and owned property. Samuel Charles Candler served in the legislature of South Carolina and participated in the Creek War of 1836. Asa was one among eleven siblings, including his brother Warren Akin Candler.

His children were:

Eldest son Charles Howard Candler (1878–1957), who chaired the board of trustees at Emory University. The family residence, Callanwolde located in Druid Hills, now functions as a center for fine arts.
Second son Asa G. Candler Jr. (1880–1953), a developer of real estate who established the Briarcliff Hotel. His estate, Briarcliff, was later converted into a rehabilitation facility for alcoholism and a psychiatric hospital; currently owned by Emory University as its Briarcliff campus. Asa Jr. played a role in expanding Zoo Atlanta during the 1930s and redesigning Westview Cemetery, including its Spanish Plateresque-style abbey.
Only daughter Lucy (1882–1962) was married to banker Henry Heinz, who was murdered at their mansion, Rainbow Terrace, in 1943 amid speculations about family involvement. Subsequently, Lucy wed cellist and conductor Enrico Leide, founder of an early iteration of what became the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
Third son Walter T. Candler (1885–1967), a businessman and philanthropist, owned the Lullwater House estate—currently serving as the residence for Emory University's president—with portions transformed into a park and a facility for the Veterans Administration. He fathered five children.
Youngest son William Candler (1890–1936), financier behind the development of the Atlanta Biltmore Hotel and Biltmore Apartments, served as president of the Biltmore Corporation beginning in 1930 and managed operations of the Biltmore Hotel. His home, Rest Haven, is situated in Druid Hills.

Founder of Coca-Cola

In 1888, pharmacist Asa Griggs Candler purchased the formula for Coca-Cola from chemist John Stith Pemberton for an amount reportedly around $2,300. The beverage—composed of brewed coca leaves with caffeine, carbonated water, and sugar—prompted Candler to establish the Coca-Cola Company in 1892. He secured trademark rights for the brand in 1893 and distributed the first dividends to investors.

By 1895, Coca-Cola's distribution network covered all U.S. states and began exports to Cuba by 1899; European markets followed starting in 1901. Candler introduced a "$1 contract," granting U.S. bottling rights for merely one dollar. Early advertising campaigns marketed Coca-Cola as a tonic for relieving mental exhaustion, physical fatigue, and headaches.

In 1903, cocaine was extracted from coca leaves used in production; this removed cocaine was sold to pharmaceutical firms. By 1911, Coca-Cola's annual marketing expenditures reached $1 million. The iconic contoured bottle was created by Root Glass Co. in 1915.

After assuming Atlanta’s mayoralty in 1916, Candler gradually withdrew from daily company management. In 1917, caffeine content in Coca-Cola was reduced by half. By 1919, he transferred most of his stock holdings to his children, who subsequently sold their shares to a group led by investor Ernest Woodruff.

Atlanta developer and mayor

In 1906, Candler finalized the construction of Atlanta's tallest edifice at that time, the Candler Building, a 17-story tower adorned with elaborate details. This landmark, located at the intersection of Peachtree and Auburn streets, remains standing and is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural importance and representation of corporate identity. Later, in 1912, the Candler Building was inaugurated in New York City.

Candler was elected mayor of Atlanta in 1916 and assumed office in 1917. During his tenure, he successfully balanced the municipal budget and spearheaded reconstruction efforts following the Great Atlanta fire of 1917, which obliterated approximately 1,500 residences. He personally invested in upgrading the city’s water supply and sewage systems, playing a crucial role in Atlanta’s urban development.

As a prominent benefactor, Candler contributed generously to educational institutions, including a $7 million donation to Emory University and funding for the Candler Hospital located in Savannah. Additionally, he was instrumental in relocating Emory University from Oxford to Atlanta.

Death

Following a stroke in 1926, Candler passed away on March 12, 1929, at Wesley Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. His final resting place is at Westview Cemetery on the city's west side.

Atlanta

The Candler Field Museum situated in Williamson, Georgia honors the original Candler Field, which served as Atlanta’s inaugural airport.

Candler’s residence built between 1902 and 1904, known as Callan Castle in Inman Park, continues to be a private home. The mansion he constructed in 1916 at 1500 Ponce de Leon Avenue within Druid Hills was subsequently transformed into the John Chrysostom Melkite Greek Catholic Church.

In 1922, he donated more than of land in Druid Hills that became Candler Park, and also divested from the Central Bank and Trust.

Several structures bearing Candler’s name illustrate Coca-Cola’s early growth:

In Baltimore, Maryland, the Candler Building at East Pratt Street and Market Place functioned as the regional headquarters for Coca-Cola Bottling Company before becoming home to the Social Security Administration. It has been refurbished for commercial offices and residential use.
The Western Auto Building in Kansas City was originally erected as the Coca-Cola (Candler) Building in 1914 and has since been converted into loft-style condominiums.
The Candler Building located in New York City remains operational.

External links

Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, Papers of Asa Griggs Candler
Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, Documents from the Candler Family