On 27 November 1826, in the quaint town of Stockton-on-Tees, England, John Walker, a chemist with a flair for experimentation, ignited a revolution by inventing the friction match.
This humble yet transformative invention emerged as a serendipitous discovery while Walker was blending chemicals that unexpectedly ignited when scraped against a rough surface.
The matches, initially named “Congreves” after a famous military rocket, were soon embraced by society, replacing less reliable methods of fire-starting and ushering in a new era of convenience.
Walker’s innovation remains a testament to the enduring power of simple yet impactful ideas.
