Augustin Thompson

Augustin Thompson (Union, Maine on November 25, 1835 – June 8, 1903) was a physician, businessman and philanthropist who created the Moxie soft drink and the company that manufactures it (now part of the Kirin Holdings Company of Tokyo, Japan).

Thompson was born in Union, Maine on November 25, 1835.

On October 1, 1862 he enlisted in the Union Army and, nine days later, was commissioned as captain of Company G, 28th Maine Volunteer Infantry. He saw action in the Siege of Port Hudson in Donaldsonville, Louisiana as well as minor action at Fort Pickens in Pensacola, Florida. He was wounded in action and developed tuberculosis which led to his discharge in August 31, 1863.

In October 1864, Thompson rejoined the Union Army and was commander of the 7th Company Unassigned Maine Infantry Volunteers which was organized at Augusta and served from November 2, 1864 at Fort Popham in Phippsburg, Maine guarding the approaches to the key shipbuilding city of Bath. After the defeat of the Confederacy, Thompson was, along with his company, mustered out of service on July 6, 1865. Later he was granted, through an act of Congress, brevet (i.e. honorary) promotions to major and lieutenant colonel in recognition of his distinguished service during the Civil War.

After the war ended, he went on to attend Hahnemann Homeopathia College and graduated with honors at the head of his class.

Upon graduation he settled in Lowell, Massachusetts where he set up his medical practice in 1867. By 1885, Dr. Thompson's practice had become highly successful and he was said to have one of the largest patient lists in New England.

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