Busch, Adolphus

Industrialist, brewer

Born: 10.07.1839 in Kastel near Mainz

died: 10.10.1913 in Lindschied near Langeschwalbach (today Bad Schwalbach)

Busch came from a family of innkeepers in Kastel. In 1857, he went to live with relatives in the USA, found a job in the wholesale company "William Hainrichshofen" in St. Louis, Missouri, was drafted into the army and fought in the American Civil War in the Union Army of the Northern States. After the death of his father, he bought into the wholesale company of Ernst Wattenberg in St. Louis and became the sole owner of "Adolphus Busch & Co" in 1865. In 1861

Busch married Lilly Anheuser from Bad Kreuznach, whose parents ran a small brewery in St. Louis. At the request of his father-in-law Eberhard Anheuser (1805-1880), founder of the brewery "Anheuser & Co.", he joined the management in 1864.

In Europe, Busch became aware of the food preservation process developed by Louis Pasteur. He was the first to apply pasteurization to beer, which enabled him to achieve consistently high beer quality, even over long transport distances.

In 1866, Busch became managing director (since 1879 "Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association") and, after the death of his father-in-law, president of what had become the largest brewery in the USA. In 1883, he launched a beer on the market called "Budweiser", which became the world's best-selling beer. In 1883, he founded the "Adolphus Busch Glass Manufacturing Company" for the production of beer bottles. He acquired a stake in coal mines in Illinois with the associated railroad line and in banks and in 1897 bought the exclusive American rights to build the diesel engine.

Busch used his economic and financial success to promote cultural projects.

Busch repeatedly spent vacations at the family estate "Villa Lilly" in Langenschwalbach (Bad Schwalbach), where he died. He found his final resting place in St. Louis, where his coffin was brought in 1915.

"Anheuser-Busch" is still the largest beer company in the world today.