James Pimm

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James Pimm (b c 1798) was the son of tenant farmers who created the gin-based cocktail known as Pimm's.

Pimm was born and raised in Newnham, Kent. In his early 20s he moved to London where he set up as a shellfish monger, the first step to embarking on a career in catering. He opened his first oyster bar in 1823 and, within 10 years, was running a chain of five restaurants patronished by city gents from the Bank of England, Lloyds of London and the Stock Exchange.

Pimm devised the cocktail to accompany the shellfish and the recipe was a closely guarded secret then and remains so to this day — known only to six people in the company. The owners now are the Diageo plc group.

Pimm was buried at East Peckham, Kent.

[edit] Sources

• How a farmer’s son invented taste of the social summer, by Mark Gardner, Faversham Times, 25 June 2005