Gail Borden - Early years, Career, Inventor, Later years

Surveyor and inventor, born in Norwich, New York, USA. In 1822 he surveyed land in Mississippi, then joined his family at Stephen Austin's colony in Texas, where he worked as the official surveyor. During the Texas war for independence from Mexico, he and his brother published the area's only newspaper. He also drew up the first topographical map of the republic and laid out the city of Galveston. Motivated by the problems of obtaining food on the frontier, in 1851 he invented a meat biscuit (pemmican), the first of his food experiments. In 1853 he travelled to New Lebanon, NY, to use the Shaker colony laboratory for experiments to condense milk. His patent for ‘a process of evaporating milk in a vacuum’ was granted in 1856. In 1861 a ‘condensing’ factory in Wassaic, NY, began production and the milk was used by Union soldiers. He returned to Texas to continue his experiments and was awarded a patent for concentrating juices in 1862.

Gail Borden Jr ( 9 November 1801 - 11 January 1874 ) was the U.S. inventor of condensed milk 1856.

Early years

Gail Borden, Jr.

Career

Sam Houston appointed Borden as Collector of Customs at Galveston in June 1837. Lamar, removed Borden from office in December 1838 and replaced Borden with a lifelong friend from Mobile, Alabama, the honorable Dr. Willis Roberts, a new arrival to the Republic. However, Borden had been so well liked that the newcomer was resented.

When a shortage of funds came to light, Roberts offered to put up several personal houses and nine slaves as collateral until the matter could be settled. Any hopes Borden had of reinstatement were dashed when Lamar appointed someone else. Houston later re-appointed Borden to the post and he served December 1841 to April 1843, resigning over a dispute with President Houston. Borden had since turned his attention to real estate matters.

Inventor

Borden turned to inventing in the 1840s. He moved to New York to secure patents for his inventions, and there a financier, Jeremiah Milbank, helped bankroll him in the venture of condensed milk, where he was ultimately successful. The invention led to the establishment of the company known as Borden Milk Products.

Later years

With his profits from the condensed milk venture, he returned to Texas, opened new business ventures, and supported many charities and institutions.

Borden died in 1874 in Borden, Colorado County, Texas. Borden County, which he never set foot in, was named for him posthumously, as was its county seat, Gail.

In 1892 Samuel and Alfred Church, stepsons of Borden and residents of Elgin, Illinois purchased and donated the Scofield Mansion at 50 N. Samuel and Alfred’s only request was that the library be forever and always known and called the Gail Borden Public Library.