John J. McLaughlin
John J. McLaughlin | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 2, 1865 Enniskillen, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | January 28, 1914 (aged 48) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation(s) | Pharmacist and manufacturer |
| Known for | Founder of Canada Dry |
John James McLaughlin, (March 2, 1865 – January 28, 1914) was a Canadian pharmacist and manufacturer, and the founder of Canada Dry.
Early life
John J. McLaughlin was born near Enniskillen, Durham Region, Ontario, the eldest son of Mary Smith and Robert McLaughlin, the founder of McLaughlin Carriage and McLaughlin Motor Car which became General Motors of Canada.[1]
Known as "Jack", he completed high school in Oshawa, Ontario, where he then became a pharmacist apprentice, before attending the Ontario College of Pharmacy in Toronto, and graduating in 1885.[2] He did postgraduate study in pharmacy in New York City, worked as a pharmacy dispenser, and later managed one of the largest pharmacies in Brooklyn.[2]
Because of the long-held belief in the health benefits of natural mineral waters, by the late 1880s a carbonated beverage industry had developed. With the addition of flavourings, they were increasingly consumed for pleasure, and often this was at drugstores.[2]
Canada Dry
After embarking on a tour of European carbonated water producers, McLaughlin returned to Toronto in 1890, where he founded a soda water bottling plant.[3] In 1904, he launched Canada Dry "pale dry" Ginger Ale and in 1907, received a patent for "Canada Dry Ginger Ale."[3][4][5]
Personal life
McLaughlin married Maude Christie on October 23, 1890, in New York City. They had three sons and a daughter. He died at home of a heart attack January 28, 1914, and is buried at St James' Cemetery, Toronto.
References
- ^ Robertson, Heather (28 October 1995). Driving Force: The McLaughlin Family and the Age of the Car. McClelland & Stewart. ISBN 0-7710-7556-1.
- ^ a b c "Biography – McLAUGHLIN, JOHN JAMES – Volume XIV (1911-1920)". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. University of Toronto/Université Laval. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ^ a b "History of our Brands". Cadbury. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011.
- ^ Wolf, Ronald (11 August 2010). "All Things Canadian Canada Dry Ginger Ale". The Algoma News. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ^ Romansky, Jerry (3 August 2014). "Is Canada Dry ginger ale Canadian?". The Lompoc Record. Retrieved 25 August 2014.