author
Angelo Mariani
1838–1914
Best known for creating Vin Mariani, he turned a 19th-century tonic into an international sensation and became a memorable figure in French commercial and cultural life. His story sits at the crossroads of pharmacy, advertising, and celebrity culture.
1 Audiobook
Coca and its Therapeutic Application, Third Edition
by Angelo Mariani
About the author
Born Ange-François Mariani in Corsica in 1838, he became a French pharmacy technician and entrepreneur. In 1863 he developed Vin Mariani, a tonic made from Bordeaux wine and coca leaf extract, which brought him wide fame and made his name known far beyond France.
Mariani was also known for his skill as a promoter. He gathered endorsements from prominent public figures and helped build one of the era's most recognizable branded products. That mix of scientific curiosity, marketing instinct, and ambition made him an unusual and influential figure in the history of popular remedies.
He died in 1914 in Saint-Raphaël, France. Beyond the drink that made him famous, he is remembered as a businessman, patron, and bibliophile whose career reflects the energy and inventiveness of late 19th-century Europe.