Pimm was born and raised in [[Newnham, Kent|Newnham]], [[Kent]] the son of James Norris Pimm, a tenant farmer, and his wife Susannah. He was [[Classics|classically educated]] in [[Edinburgh]], Scotland, where he focused his studies on theology. In his early 20s, he moved to London where he established himself as a shellfish monger, opening Pimm’s Oyster Bar. The royal family were frequent patrons. According to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, he married Mary Southernden Mallery (1797–1864) on 2 June 1822.<ref name=”:0″ /> Within ten years, he was running a chain of five restaurants patronised by members of the British gentry and ”[[hoi polloi]]” alike. Pimm and his wife Mary had at least 11 children, though few reached adulthood.[[File:Pimm’s Cup.jpg|left|thumb|Pimm’s #1 Cup]]Pimm devised the cocktail in 1840 to accompany shellfish. The drink is technically what later became known as a [[gin sling]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Book of Drinking|url=http://archive.org/details/isbn_9780856740176|publisher=Triune Books|date=1973|isbn=978-0-85674-017-6|others=|first=John|last=Doxat|location=London|pages=93}}</ref> Some call it the first of this type.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Little Book of Cocktails|url=http://archive.org/details/isbn_9781405483964|publisher=Parragon Plus|date=|isbn=978-1-4054-8396-4|others=|publication-date=|pages=26|editor-last=Barker|editor-first=Alex|year=2006|location=Bath, UK}}</ref> The recipe was a closely guarded secret, known only to six people at a time,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Old Man Drinks: Recipes, Advice, and Barstool Wisdom|url=http://archive.org/details/oldmandrinksreci0000schn|publisher=Quirk Books|date=2010|isbn=978-1-59474-450-1|others=|first=Robert|last=Schnakenberg|location=Philadelphia|pages=106}}</ref> and it remains so to this day.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Gin: A Toast to the Most Aromatic of Spirits|url=http://archive.org/details/gintoasttomostar0000coat|publisher=Prion/Carlton Books Limited|date=2015|isbn=978-1-85375-788-4|others=L|first=Geraldine|last=Coates|location=London|pages=157, 159}}</ref> In 1859 Pimm began bottling and selling it to other restaurants. Pimm sold his company to Horatio Davis, who developed it for export, including to Sudan, Sri Lanka, and Khartoum; it remains a global symbol of the British empire. Owners now are [[Diageo]] PLC.
Pimm was born and raised in [[Newnham, Kent|Newnham]], [[Kent]] the son of James Norris Pimm, a tenant farmer, and his wife Susannah. He was [[Classics|classically educated]] in [[Edinburgh]], Scotland, where he focused his studies on theology. In his early 20s, he moved to London where he established himself as a shellfish monger, opening Pimm’s Oyster Bar. The royal family were frequent patrons. According to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, he married Mary Southernden Mallery (1797–1864) on 2 June 1822.<ref name=”:0″ /> Within ten years, he was running a chain of five restaurants patronised by members of the British gentry and ”[[hoi polloi]]” alike. Pimm and his wife Mary had at least 11 children, though few reached adulthood.[[File:Pimm’s Cup.jpg|left|thumb|Pimm’s #1 Cup]]Pimm devised the cocktail in 1840 to accompany shellfish. The drink is technically what later became known as a [[gin sling]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Book of Drinking|url=http://archive.org/details/isbn_9780856740176|publisher=Triune Books|date=1973|isbn=978-0-85674-017-6|others=|first=John|last=Doxat|location=London|pages=93}}</ref> Some call it the first of this type.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Little Book of Cocktails|url=http://archive.org/details/isbn_9781405483964|publisher=Parragon Plus|date=|isbn=978-1-4054-8396-4|others=|publication-date=|pages=26|editor-last=Barker|editor-first=Alex|year=2006|location=Bath, UK}}</ref> The recipe was a closely guarded secret, known only to six people at a time,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Old Man Drinks: Recipes, Advice, and Barstool Wisdom|url=http://archive.org/details/oldmandrinksreci0000schn|publisher=Quirk Books|date=2010|isbn=978-1-59474-450-1|others=|first=Robert|last=Schnakenberg|location=Philadelphia|pages=106}}</ref> and it remains so to this day.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Gin: A Toast to the Most Aromatic of Spirits|url=http://archive.org/details/gintoasttomostar0000coat|publisher=Prion/Carlton Books Limited|date=2015|isbn=978-1-85375-788-4|others=L|first=Geraldine|last=Coates|location=London|pages=157, 159}}</ref> In 1859 Pimm began bottling and selling it to other restaurants. Pimm sold his company to Horatio Davis, who developed it for export, including to Sudan, Sri Lanka, and Khartoum; it remains a global symbol of the British empire. Owners now are [[Diageo]] PLC.
It is called Pimm’s #1 because there were other recipes, most famously #2 and #6 that were said to use scotch, brandy, rum, rye, and vodka in various formulations.<ref>{{Cite book|title=From Kitchen to High Table: The British-American Edition|url=http://archive.org/details/isbn_9780984624461|publisher=O’More Publishing|date=2012|isbn=978-0-9846244-6-1|language=English|others=|last=Woodfine|first=David|location=Franklin, Tennessee|pages=16}}</ref>
It is called Pimm’s #1 because there were other recipes, most famously #2 and #6 that were said to use scotch, brandy, rum, rye, and vodka in various formulations.<ref>{{Cite book|title=From Kitchen to High Table: The British-American Edition|url=http://archive.org/details/isbn_9780984624461|publisher=O’More Publishing|date=2012|isbn=978-0-9846244-6-1|language=English|others=|last=Woodfine|first=David|location=Franklin, Tennessee|pages=16}}</ref>
Pimms, Pimms, wonderful Pimms —
Drink up, and always be merry
Drink up, and always be merry
But please never put in a cherry!
But please never put in a cherry!
— Attributed to James Pimm, Pimms Oyster Bar, London<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Golf Club Suggestion Book|url=http://archive.org/details/golfclubsuggesti0000unse_l5z3|publisher=Stadia|date=2006|isbn=978-0-7524-3799-6|others=|location=Stroud, Gloucestershire|pages=162|editor-last=Ferguson|editor-first=Duncan|editor-last2=Wilson|editor-first2=John}}</ref>Death and legacy
— Attributed to James Pimm, Pimms Oyster Bar, London<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Golf Club Suggestion Book|url=http://archive.org/details/golfclubsuggesti0000unse_l5z3|publisher=Stadia|date=2006|isbn=978-0-7524-3799-6|others=|location=Stroud, Gloucestershire|pages=162|editor-last=Ferguson|editor-first=Duncan|editor-last2=Wilson|editor-first2=John}}</ref>Death and legacy
Inventor of Pimm’s liqueur
James Pimm (9 November, 1798– 16 August, 1866) was a British caterer who created the gin-based liqueur known as Pimm’s.[1]
Pimm was born and raised in Newnham, Kent the son of James Norris Pimm, a tenant farmer, and his wife Susannah. He was classically educated in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he focused his studies on theology. In his early 20s, he moved to London where he established himself as a shellfish monger, opening Pimm’s Oyster Bar. The royal family were frequent patrons. According to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, he married Mary Southernden Mallery (1797–1864) on 2 June 1822.[1] Within ten years, he was running a chain of five restaurants patronised by members of the British gentry and hoi polloi alike. Pimm and his wife Mary had at least 11 children, though few reached adulthood.
Pimm devised the cocktail in 1840 to accompany shellfish. The drink is technically what later became known as a gin sling.[2] Some call it the first of this type.[3] The recipe was a closely guarded secret, known only to six people at a time,[4] and it remains so to this day.[5] In 1859 Pimm began bottling and selling it to other restaurants. Pimm sold his company to Horatio Davis, who developed it for export, including to Sudan, Sri Lanka, and Khartoum; it remains a global symbol of the British empire. Owners now are Diageo PLC.
It is called Pimm’s #1 because there were other recipes, most famously #2 and #6 that were said to use scotch, brandy, rum, rye, and vodka in various formulations.[6]
Pimms, Pimms, wonderful Pimms —
Drink up, and always be merry
Just add what I say,
Ever keep it that way,
But please never put in a cherry!
— Attributed to James Pimm, Pimms Oyster Bar, London[7]Death and legacy
Pimm died at the family home in East Peckham, Kent, although he was still known to be residing in addresses in The City of London around the time of his death. He is buried at Holy Trinity Church, East Peckham, Kent, England.
Pimm’s #1 Cup is the official drink of the Wimbledon Champtionships, the Henley Royal Regatta, and British Polo.[8]
- ^ a b McConnell, Anita (22 September 2005). “Pimm, James”. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/92811. (Subscription, Wikipedia Library access or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ Doxat, John (1973). The Book of Drinking. London: Triune Books. p. 93. ISBN 978-0-85674-017-6.
- ^ Barker, Alex, ed. (2006). Little Book of Cocktails. Bath, UK: Parragon Plus. p. 26. ISBN 978-1-4054-8396-4.
- ^ Schnakenberg, Robert (2010). Old Man Drinks: Recipes, Advice, and Barstool Wisdom. Philadelphia: Quirk Books. p. 106. ISBN 978-1-59474-450-1.
- ^ Coates, Geraldine (2015). Gin: A Toast to the Most Aromatic of Spirits. L. London: Prion/Carlton Books Limited. pp. 157, 159. ISBN 978-1-85375-788-4.
- ^ Woodfine, David (2012). From Kitchen to High Table: The British-American Edition. Franklin, Tennessee: O’More Publishing. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-9846244-6-1.
- ^ Ferguson, Duncan; Wilson, John, eds. (2006). The Golf Club Suggestion Book. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Stadia. p. 162. ISBN 978-0-7524-3799-6.
- ^ Duecy, Erica (2013). Storied Sips: Evocative Cocktails for Everyday Escapes. New York: Random House Reference. p. 82. ISBN 978-0-375-42621-6.
- How a Farmer’s Son Invented the Taste of the Social Summer, by Mark Gardner, Faversham Times, 25 June 2005
