Short History of Canning

History of Preserving Foods
  1. 1795 -- Napoleon offers 12,000 francs to anyone who can devise a way to preserve food for his army and navy.
  2. 1809 -- Nicolas Appert of France devises a way to preserving food in bottles. Wins prize preserving food by sterilization.
  3. 1810 -- Peter Durand of England gets a patent using pottery, glass and tinplated iron to use in canning.
  4. 1812 -- A small plant started by in New York cans oysters, meats, fruits and vegetables in hermetically sealed containers.
  5. 1818 -- Peter Durand introduces his tinplated can in America.
  6. 1819 -- Thomas Kensett and Ezra begin to sell products in canned tinplate cans.
  7. 1825 -- Thomas Kensett obtains an American patent for tinplated cans.
  8. 1830 -- Huntly and Palmer sell biscuits and cakes in decorated cans.
  9. 1849 -- Henry Evans given a patent making cans by machine. Production increases from 5-6 cans per hour to 50-60 per hour.
  10. 1856 -- Henry Bessmer discovers method of making steel from cast iron.
  11. 1856 -- Gail Borden granted a patent on canned condensed milk.
  12. 1858 -- Ezra Warner granted a patent on first can opener.
  13. 1858 -- American John Mason invents a practical glass jar for home canning.
  14. 1866 -- J Osterhoudt patents the tin can with a key opener.
  15. 1870 -- William Lyman patents an opener with a rotating wheel that cuts the top rim of the can.
  16. 1875 -- Libby develops a tapered can for canning corned beef.
  17. 1880-1890 -- Automatic can making machines begins.
  18. 1892 -- Tobacco cans first seen.
  19. 1909 -- Tuna canning starts in California.
  20. 1921 -- Canned citrus juice begins in Florida.
  21. 1926 -- Canned ham, SPAM begins.
  22. 1931 -- Electric can opener introduced.
  23. 1933 -- Motor oil canned.
  24. 1940 -- Carbonated soft drink canning.
  25. 1957 -- First all aluminum beer can.
  26. 1962 -- Beverage can pull-tab appears.
  27. 1973 -- Six-paks introduced.
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