Joseph Priestley, inspired by a meeting with Benjamin Franklin in London years earlier, devoted himself to the study of “fixed air” (now known as carbon dioxide). His studies, begun in 1767, culminated in 1772 with the publication of “Instructions for Impregning Water with Fixed Air” (essentially bubbling the gas released by the reaction of sulfuric acid and limestone through ordinary water). This was the first drinkable carbonated water. However, the discovery was exploited in 1792 by Jacob Sweppe, a Swiss emigrant, who opened a carbonated drinks factory in London that still bears his name.
