Bromo-Seltzer King: The Opulent Life of Captain Isaac Ike Emerson, 1859-1931

Captain Isaac Ike Emerson, riding high on the international success of his patent, Bromo-Seltzer, lived a storied life of opulence. This first biography of the Bromo-Seltzer King traces his path from North Carolina farm boy to Baltimore-based multimillionaire with a penchant for lavish entertaining.

Emerson is presented as an entrepreneur, patriot, civic leader, sportsman, and philanthropist. He was a phenom in his era, and this book, drawing from archival records, newspapers of the day, and interviews with descendants, details the ups and downs of his complex and indulgent life.