The Resume

(May 22, 1849-May 16, 1913)
Resided in Nimes, France
Elected Councillor at large (1870)
Partner/Owner of Vergze spring (Perrier Water) (1888-1903)
Namesake of Perrier water
Perrier sold 5 million bottles by 1908
Perrier sold 100 million bottles in 1952
80% share of all imported water in the U.S. (1976)
Perrier number one world mineral water company (1984)
Perrier sold 1 billion bottles in 1990
Nestles purchases Perrier water (1992)

Why he might be annoying:

He made water expensive and trendy.
Paying for water, can you say 'Emperor's new clothes.'
His name is close to Dr. Louis Pasteur who also was a french doctor who dabbled with beverages.
Although he only had a partnership in the spring for 15 years, the water bears his name.
Despite a successful medical career he decided to go into politics (1870).
What would eventually be Perrier water was free until Napoleon III granted the rights to use it as part of a spa (June 23, 1863).
Due to a fire that destroyed the spa, it went bankrupt (1869).
Almost twenty years later Monsieur Rouvire takes control of the Vergze spring and partners with Dr. Perrier (1888).
He takes full control of the spring and calls it 'Vergze Company for mineral water, drinks and health products.'
He makes a number of medicinal claims for this water, including that it is 'therapeutic.'
He decided to bottle the water and sell it.
Because of his marketing today people pay billions of dollars for water that should be free.
It has been proven in test after test that bottled water is not safer or healthier than New York tap water (Bullshit!, 20/20).
In blind taste tests, New York tap water tends to fall between the middle and top preference among those who normally pay for bottled water.
In 1990 twelve bottles of Perrier were found to be contaminated with benzine. Perrier came up with many theories before blaming it on an isolated incident.
It lost most of the U.S. water market to companies like Aquafina and Dasani (both of whom use municipal water supplies).

Why he might not be annoying:

He studied medicine in Montpellier, France, graduating in 1862.
He practiced medicine in Nimes, France.
Although he won political office and owned the water spring, he continued to treat patients.
He took full control of the spring and named it 'Vergze Company for mineral water, drinks and health products'
Perrier water is naturally carbonated due to volcanic gas.
Within a year of meeting Sir John Harmsworth (his family owned UK's Daily Mail and Daily Tribune) he leased the spring to him and eventually sold it to him (1903).
Sir John Harmsworth rechristened the spring Perrier in his honor (1903).
Perrier was the drink of English royalty during the earlier 1900's.
By 1986, 3,000 employees worked for Perrier water.
To be safe when the Benzine was found in Perrier bottled water, 260 million bottles were destroyed (1990).
Salvator Dali and Andy Warhol designed posters and ads for Perrier.
Orson Welles was a spokesperson for Perrier.

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• I Died in 1913 (Ranked: 63)
• Look at Me, I've Been Caught with Alcohol
• Look at My Umbrella
• My Name is H20
• My Name, My Company
• Profiles 14251-14500 (Ranked: 14482)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 23 Votes: 43.48% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 14 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 29 Votes: 62.07% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 15 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 27 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 61 Votes: 72.13% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 207 Votes: 40.10% Annoying
In 2005, Out of 137 Votes: 54.01% Annoying