John Walker (inventor)
John Walker (born May 29, 1781 in Stockton-on-Tees , England , † May 1, 1859 ibid) was an English pharmacist . He invented the first modern match in 1826 .
Walker accidentally discovered that a mixture of antimony ( III ) sulfide and potassium chlorate ignited when rubbed against a rough surface. He further developed the matches until they were ready for sale and sold them in tin cans by the hundred. An entry in one of his trading books indicates that on April 7, 1827, he sold the first can of matches to a Mr. John Hixon.
Since he did not patent his invention, numerous imitators pushed him from the market, of which Samuel Jones from London is best known with his Lucifers .
John Walker had a good reputation locally as a botanist , developed an interest in mineralogy, and spent much time experimenting with chemistry. Walker never married and lived with his niece. He was known for his style of dress; he usually wore a large beaver hat, a white tie, gray stockings, gray-brown breeches and a brown lap skirt. He died in Stockton-on-Tees in 1859 and was buried in nearby Norton-on-Tees .
Web links
- John Walker & The Match ("This is Stockton")
Individual evidence
- ^ Edward Irving Carlyle: Walker, John (1781-1859) . In: Sidney Lee (Ed.): Dictionary of National Biography . Volume 59: Wakeman - Watkins. , MacMillan & Co, Smith, Elder & Co., New York City / London 1899, pp. 77 - 78 (English) ..
- ↑ The First Friction Match The Danish Match Museum (accessed April 1, 2017).
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Walker, John |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | English pharmacist and inventor of the match |
| DATE OF BIRTH | May 29, 1781 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Stockton-on-Tees , England |
| DATE OF DEATH | May 1, 1859 |
| Place of death | Stockton-on-Tees , England |