Hot Date: The MCPHS Connection to International Hot & Spicy Food Day

From Bridgeport to Boston

Scoville was born on January 22, 1865, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and had an extensive background in chemistry and pharmacy. At just 14, he began working for a local druggist and later moved to Boston to attend the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. He earned a Graduate of Pharmacy (PhG) degree in 1889, laying the foundation for a career that significantly influenced the pharmaceutical and food industries.

In 1892, Scoville joined his alma mater as a professor of pharmacy and applied pharmacy, a position he held until 1904. Over his 15-year tenure on the faculty, he contributed extensively to the institution, and many of his files and published papers are preserved in the University's archives. He also ventured into specialized journalism, becoming the editor of New England Druggist in 1894. In 1927, Scoville furthered his academic achievements by earning a Master of Pharmacy (PhM) and a Doctor of Pharmacy (PhmD).

A Pharmacy Maverick

While Scoville's name is most often associated with heat, his contributions to pharmacy were equally groundbreaking. He wrote "The Art of Compounding," a landmark text first published in 1895, reprinted eight times, and an essential resource in classrooms and labs until the 1960s. This practical guide comprises 23 chapters with material ranging from "the prescription itself" to "medication incompatibilities." Other topics include drug manufacturing, "allergenic solutions," and sterilization principles. (Fun fact: The book contains one of the earliest mentions of milk as an antidote for pepper heat.)

Scoville also wrote "Extracts and Perfumes," which contained hundreds of formulations. Among the items was the "fumigating pastille," a solid, incense-like perfume sold in small, flammable cones.

An Enduring Legacy

Scoville died on March 10, 1942, at 77; his legacy lives on more than a century-and-a-half later. The Scovie Awards celebrate excellence in spicy foods, and in 2016, on his 151st birthday, Scoville was honored with a Google Doodle and animated game to commemorate his fiery contributions. Even the New York Times dubbed him the "Pope of Peppers." And famed choreographer Mark Morris created a dance number in Scoville's honor for a production called "Pepperland."

As International Hot & Spicy Food Day on January 16 and Scoville's 160th birthday on January 22 approaches, the legacy of the pharmacist who turned up the heat on the culinary and scientific worlds is remembered. Whether savoring a mild jalapeño or braving a ghost pepper, a toast (preferably with milk nearby) is in order for Scoville—a man who showed that sometimes, the best ideas come with a little bit of spice.