Today in history, on November 14, 1865, the patent for condensing milk was awarded to Gail Borden. Borden was an American inventor and entrepreneur born on November 9, 1801. Though he didn’t have much formal education, he constantly searched for ways to improve everyday life.

In the 1840s, Borden’s wife died from yellow fever, and he witnessed children dying aboard a ship from drinking contaminated milk. These events spurred him to study food preservation. His first success was a dehydrated beef product he called the “meat biscuit.” While it won him a few awards, its taste and texture could have been better commercially.

In 1853, Borden discovered a new method of condensing milk. He heated milk in a vacuum pan until the water evaporated and added sugar as a preservative. Borden immediately took his process to the patent office but was initially denied for ‘lack of novelty.’ Undeterred, he persisted and was finally granted the patent on August 19, 1856, a testament to his unwavering determination.

Borden received the patent for his finalized process on November 14, 1865. This invention was a game-changer, revolutionizing the dairy industry. He developed methods to preserve milk with and without sugar; his sweetened condensed milk was a massive commercial success, forever altering the way we consume and preserve dairy products.

Demand for preserved milk skyrocketed once the Civil War began in 1861. Thanks to that growth and Borden’s strict quality control, Borden Dairy Company still operates today. Condensed milk is still sold under Borden’s brand name, Eagle.