Gentleman of Vergèze

Born in 1876, St John Harmsworth came from a modest Dublin family. But destiny decided a different course, and the family moved up the social ladder thanks to older brothers Alfred and Harold, who founded the Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph in London . Having built their empire, both brothers were honoured with peerages, Alfred becoming Lord Northcliffe and Harold, Lord Rothermere.

After completing his studies, St John Harmsworth travelled to France in 1902 to learn the language. He happened upon Dr. Perrier during a stay at Grau-du-Roi. The good doctor quickly took him to the Bouillens spring, a site dear to his heart. Harmsworth was instantly smitten. Dr. Perrier leased the property to St. John Harmsworth in 1903 and later sold it to him. Ever the gentleman, after acquiring the doctor's shares, Harmsworth named the spring after the man who had put so much effort into developing it. Until his death in 1912, Dr. Perrier worked tirelessly to develop Vergèze, proud and happy to see his name forever associated with the spring water.

Harmsworth decided to abandon spa activities at the site - a fashion that went out of style early in the century - refocusing on the production of drinking water. It was a logical decision for an Englishman, since the British were having a love affair with soft drinks at the time. His goal was simple: to convert everyone in the British Empire to the benefits of mineral water.

Next page