Gail Borden applies for a patent for the production of commercial condensed milk

Gail Borden Jr. of Brooklyn, New York applied to patent his process for the condensing of milk.  The Patent Office was highly skeptical of the method and did not award the patent until August 19, 1856.  It was a further five years before Borden opened the first successful milk condensing plant at Wassaic, New York. (By John Osborne)