[4] In 1870, in the Franco-Prussian War, Napoleon III ordered one million cans of beef to feed his troops.

[5] Large quantities of beef were available across the British Dominions and South America, but transport and storage were problematic.

Therefore, Johnston created a product known as 'Johnston's Fluid Beef', later called Bovril, to meet Napoleon's needs.

[8][9] Bovril also produced concentrated, pemmican-like dried beef as part of the British Army emergency field ration during the war.

[citation needed] In 1971, James Goldsmith's Cavenham Foods acquired the Bovril Company but then sold most of its dairies and South American operations to finance further takeovers.

[5] Bovril jars are commonly excavated as part of archaeological assemblages, such as at Knowles Mill in Worcestershire.

An advertising campaign of the early 20th century in Britain depicted Pope Leo XIII seated on his throne, bearing a mug of Bovril.

Bovril beef tea was the only hot drink that Ernest Shackleton's team had when they were marooned on Elephant Island during the 1914–1917 Endurance Expedition.

[citation needed] British mountaineer Chris Bonington appeared in TV commercials for Bovril in the 1970s and 1980s in which he recalled melting snow and ice on the first ascent of Baintha Brakk (known as "The Ogre") to make hot drinks.