39 Facts About Gail Borden

Gail Borden was born in New York state and settled in Texas in 1829, where he worked as a land surveyor, newspaper publisher, and food company entrepreneur.

Gail Borden created a process in 1853 to make sweetened condensed milk.

Gail Borden received his only formal schooling in Indiana during 1816 and 1817.

Gail Borden stayed in Liberty for seven years, working as the county surveyor and as a schoolteacher in Bates and Zion Hill.

Gail Borden's mother died at age 48 from yellow fever in Nashville, Tennessee, perhaps while visiting a grown child and family.

Gail Borden collaborated on drawing the first topographical map of Texas in 1835.

Gail Borden relocated to Houston and published the first Houston issue of his paper on May 2,1837.

In March 1837, Thomas Borden sold his interest in the enterprise to Francis W Moore Jr.

Three months later, Gail Borden transferred his shares to Jacob W Cruger.

Gail Borden was a delegate at the Convention of 1833, where he assisted in writing early drafts of a Republic of Texas constitution.

Gail Borden shared administrative duties with Samuel May Williams during 1833 and 1834 when Stephen F Austin was away in Mexico.

Gail Borden was popular and performed his job well, raising half of the government income during this period through his collection on importations.

However, Gail Borden had been so well liked, the newcomer was resented.

Gail Borden began experimenting with finding a cure to the disease via refrigeration.

Gail Borden experimented with an amphibious vehicle that he called a "terraqueous machine".

Gail Borden abandoned the invention after a test run resulted in ejecting its riders into the Gulf of Mexico.

Gail Borden developed a dehydrated beef product known as the "meat biscuit", which was loosely based upon a traditional Native American processed dried food known as pemmican.

Pioneers seeking gold in California needed a readily transportable food that could endure harsh conditions, and Gail Borden sold some of his meat biscuits to miners.

Gail Borden's desired markets were military organizations, domestic or foreign, which required easily transported food that did not spoil easily.

Gail Borden prepared promotional materials, arranged for product trials, and demonstrated the preparation of meat biscuits at cooking facilities for hospitals and ships.

Gail Borden became interested in developing a way to preserve milk.

Gail Borden was inspired by the vacuum pan he had seen being used by Shakers to condense fruit juice and herbs.

Gail Borden learned to reduce milk without scorching or curdling it.

In 1856, after three years of refining his model, Gail Borden received the patent for his process of condensing milk by vacuum.

Gail Borden abandoned the meat biscuit, to focus on his new product.

Gail Borden was forced to recruit financial partners to begin production and marketing of this new product.

Gail Borden offered Thomas Green three-eighths of his patent rights and gave James Bridge a quarter interest on his investment; together, the three men built a condensery in Wolcottville, Connecticut, which opened in 1856.

Gail Borden persuaded his former partners and a third investor, Reuel Williams, to build a new factory.

In 1861, Gail Borden closed the factory in Burrville, opening the first of what would be many condensed milk factories in upstate New York and Illinois, which were centers of dairy farming.

Around this same time, Gail Borden married his third wife, Emeline Eunice Eno Church.

Gail Borden developed cleanliness practices that continue to be used in the production of condensed milk to this day.

Gail Borden tried to incorporate these other products into the line of the New York Condensed Milk Company, but the greatest demand was always for milk.

Gail Borden published reports filled with testimonials of "impartial" scientists who observed and tested his inventions, including the meat biscuit and condensed milk.

Gail Borden coupled ambition for success with an enduring desire to produce quality products.

In 1828, Gail Borden married Penelope Mercer of Amite County, Mississippi.

Penelope Gail Borden contracted yellow fever and died in Galveston in 1844.

Gail Borden died on January 11,1874, in Gail Borden in Colorado County, Texas.

Gail Borden's body was shipped by private car to New York City to be buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.

The Gail Borden Company established the Gail Borden Award in 1937 and inaugurated it in 1938.