John Stith Pemberton was born in Knoxville, Crawford County, Georgia. His early life was spent in a rural environment, which likely fostered an appreciation for the natural world and traditional remedies – a foundation for his later pursuits in pharmacy.

Pemberton obtained a degree in pharmacy from the Reform Medical College of Georgia in Macon. This formal education provided him with the essential knowledge of chemistry and pharmacology that would guide his experimentation with various medicinal compounds throughout his career.

After graduating, Pemberton established himself as a pharmacist, opening drugstores in Columbus, Georgia, and later in Atlanta. He married Ann Eliza Clifford Lewis and they had one son, Charles Ney Pemberton. This period represents a time of building a career and establishing a family life.

With the outbreak of the Civil War, Pemberton served in the Confederate States Army. He served as a lieutenant colonel within the Third Georgia Cavalry. Pemberton was wounded during the Battle of Columbus in April 1865. This injury, and subsequent pain management, may have played a role in his later experimentation with morphine and ultimately, the creation of Coca-Cola.

Following his war injury, Pemberton became addicted to morphine, a common pain reliever at the time. He began experimenting with various concoctions in an attempt to find a suitable and non-addictive painkiller. This experimentation led him to create various tonics and medicinal beverages, including French Wine Coca, an alcoholic beverage inspired by the popular Vin Mariani.

In 1886, with prohibition legislation being introduced in Atlanta, Pemberton was forced to create a non-alcoholic version of his French Wine Coca. With the assistance of Willis Venable, he developed a syrup that, when mixed with carbonated water, became known as Coca-Cola. The beverage was initially marketed as a medicinal tonic, sold at Jacob's Pharmacy for five cents a glass.

Plagued by failing health and increasing financial difficulties, Pemberton began selling portions of his Coca-Cola rights to various partners, including Asa Griggs Candler. He was likely unaware of the immense potential the beverage held, focusing instead on immediate financial relief.

John Stith Pemberton died in Atlanta, Georgia, at the age of 57. At the time of his death, he believed Coca-Cola would never be successful. He died relatively impoverished and failed to fully capitalize on his invention, but he inadvertently left behind a global legacy.