Asa Griggs Candler - Definition and Overview

Asa Griggs Candler (December 30, 1851 - March 12, 1929) was business tycoon who made most of his money selling Coca-Cola. He also served as mayor of Atlanta, Georgia from 1916 to 1919. Candler Field at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is named after him.

Candler was born in Villa Rica, Georgia. He began his business career as a drugstore owner. In 1887 he bought the formula for Coca-Cola from its inventor John Pemberton for $2,300. The success of Coca-Cola was largely due to Candler's aggressive marketing of the product. Candler made millions of dollars from his investment and became a major philanthropist for the Methodist Church. He gave $1 million dollars plus a land gift to Emory University for the school to move from Oxford, Georgia to Atlanta. Emory's theology school and theology library are named in honor of him. Candler also gave millions to what would later become Emory Hospital.

Candler became mayor of Atlanta 1916. In 1919 he sold The Coca-Cola Company to a group of investors led by Ernest Woodruff. Candler suffered a stroke in 1926 and died March 12, 1929.