- Alfred Bird
Alfred Bird (1811 –
15 December 1878 ) was a British food manufacturer and chemist. He was born inNympsfield , Gloucestershire, England in 1811 [1851 England Census Class: HO107; Piece: 2049; Folio: 84; Page: 1; GSU roll: 87459] [1861 England Census Class: RG9; Piece: 2143; Folio: 60; Page: 24; GSU roll: 542924] [Baptised 25th August 1811 in Nympsfield, Gloucester, England. Parents John and Mary. International Genealogical Index batch C030651; source call no. 0425482; Printout call no. 6911781] was the inventor of a series of food products mostly now taken for granted. His son Alfred Frederick Bird continued to develop the business after his fathers death.Alfred Bird registered as a pharmacist in
Birmingham in 1842, having served anapprentice ship to Phillip Harris of that city. He was a qualifiedchemist and druggist and went on to open an experimental chemist's shop in Bull Street.Alfred Bird's first major invention was egg free
custard (1837) . Alfred Bird used cornflour instead of egg to created a high quality custard mix. It was originally intended only for his wife Elizabeth who had both egg and yeast allergies. Only when the custard was accidentally fed to guests did Alfred Bird realise that his invention had a wider use. Soon afterwards Alfred Bird founded 'Alfred Bird and Sons Ltd', which would go on to become the famousBird's Custard company and brand.Bird was not content to revolutionize custard but went on to invent
baking powder so he could make yeast-free bread for his wife.Alfred Bird died on the
15 December 1878 and is buried atKey Hill Cemetery in Birmingham. Famously his obituary in the journal of theChemical Society (of which he was a fellow) discussed at length his skills and research but did not mention his other activity - the by then famousBird's Custard .His son, Alfred Frederick Bird, continued the work of his father. Bird junior went on to invent egg substitute powder in 1890,
blancmange powder and jelly powder."
The Custard Factory " in Digbeth, Birmingham, is now a centre providing space to artists.External links
* [http://www.rpsgb.org/informationresources/museum/exhibitions/themotherofinvention/bird.html Alfred Bird]
References
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