James Cook Ayer was born in Groton, Connecticut in May, 1818. The wealthiest patent medicine businessman of his day,[1] Dr. Ayer was also brother of wealthy industrialist Frederick Ayer. In addition to his patent medicine business, Dr. Ayer was involved in textile production in Lowell, Massachusetts with his brother. The town of Ayer, Massachusetts is named for him.[1] He died in an asylum on July 3, 1878 and is interred at Lowell Cemetery.[1] His son, Frederick Fanning Ayer, born 1851, became a lawyer and philanthropist, and was director or stockholder of many corporations.[2]