James Mease facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Mease
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portrait by Thomas Sully, 1834
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| Born | August 11, 1771  |
| Died | May 14, 1846 (aged 74) |
| Occupation | Physician |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Butler |
James Mease (1771–1846) was a smart American scientist, gardener, and doctor from Philadelphia. He is most famous for sharing the very first known recipe for ketchup made with tomatoes in 1812. This was a big step for the popular sauce we love today!
Contents
Early Life and Education
James Mease was born in Philadelphia on August 11, 1771. His parents were John and Esther Mease. He went to the University of Pennsylvania to study. In 1787, he earned his first degree.
He then continued his studies in medical school. By 1792, he became a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.). This meant he was ready to practice as a physician.
Serving as a Surgeon
Early in his career, Dr. Mease wrote many articles about medicine. He also worked as a surgeon for nine months. This was during the War of 1812, a conflict between the United States and Great Britain.
A Man of Many Interests
Dr. Mease was curious about many different things. He wrote about more than just medicine. He helped put together two important collections of knowledge. These were the Domestic Encyclopedia (published in 1803–04) and the Archives of Useful Knowledge (published in 1811–12).
Writing About Philadelphia and Geology
He is well-known for his detailed book, "The Picture of Philadelphia." This book was 372 pages long and described the city. He also wrote "Geological Account of the United States" in 1807. This was one of the first books about geology written by an American. Geology is the study of Earth's physical structure and substances.
Collecting Old Coins
Mease also collected old coins and medals. He wrote an article about them called "Description of Some of the Medals Struck in Relation to Important Events in North America." Many of his writings were shared with the American Philosophical Society. He became a member of this important group in 1802. He also served as an officer there from 1824 to 1836. He helped start the Athenaeum of Philadelphia and was its first vice-president.
The Ketchup Story
Ketchup has a very long history. It started centuries ago in places like China and Vietnam. Dr. Mease's big idea was to add tomatoes to the recipe. Before him, ketchup was often made from mushrooms, fish, or other ingredients.
Tomato Ketchup Becomes Popular
Adding tomatoes made tomato-based ketchup the popular sauce we know today. It quickly became very common in the United States and Europe. His ketchup recipe likely shared ideas with other tomato sauces. These were found in cookbooks published in both Britain and America.
He might also have learned about tomato sauces from French Creole refugees. These people came from a war in Haiti. His recipe included spices and brandy. Interestingly, it did not use sugar or vinegar, which are common in modern ketchup. He called tomatoes "Love Apples," a term used by the French at the time.
Family Life
On July 3, 1800, Dr. James Mease married Sarah Butler. Sarah was the daughter of Pierce Butler, who was a Senator from South Carolina. James and Sarah had two sons. Both sons later changed their last names to Butler. They did this to receive an inheritance from their mother's side of the family.
One of their sons, also named Pierce Butler, married a famous stage actress. Her name was Frances Anne Kemble. James Mease passed away on May 14, 1846. He was buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia.
