Henry Jones (baker) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Jones
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| Born | 1812 Monmouth, Wales
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| Died | July 12, 1891 Court House, Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Wales
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| Occupation | Baker |
| Known for | Inventing self-raising flour |
Henry Jones (born in 1812, died on 12 July 1891) was a baker from Bristol, England. In 1845, he invented something very useful: self-raising flour. This special flour already had ingredients that made bread and cakes rise, making baking much easier. Henry Jones also started his own family business, called Henry Jones (Bristol) Ltd. His invention was so important that it could have helped sailors in the British Navy eat fresh bread instead of hard biscuits. However, it took some time for the navy to accept this new idea.
The Story of Self-Raising Flour
Henry Jones was born in Monmouth, a town in Wales. He later opened his bakery in Broadmead, Bristol. In 1845, he received a patent for his self-raising flour. A patent is like an official document that proves you invented something and gives you the right to be the only one to make and sell it for a while.
By the end of 1846, his flour was incredibly popular. It was so successful that he was chosen to supply his special flour and biscuits to Queen Victoria herself! This was a huge honor. Henry Jones also got a patent for his flour in the USA in 1849. A few years later, in 1852, a company in Chicago even won a gold medal for using his Bristol flour recipe.
Helping Sailors with Fresh Bread
It took Henry Jones several years to convince the British Admiralty (the people in charge of the British Navy) that his new flour was better. Sailors were used to eating very hard biscuits, sometimes called hardtack, which could be difficult to chew. Jones explained that his flour would allow sailors to bake fresh bread during their long voyages. This would be much better for their health and happiness.
Finally, in 1855, his self-raising flour was approved for use by soldiers and sailors during the Crimean War. This happened partly because Florence Nightingale, a famous nurse, supported the idea. She understood how important good food was for the well-being of the troops.
Henry Jones lived at Court House in Caldicot, Monmouthshire from 1864 until he passed away in 1891.
