Matches - A Striking Success
A Striking Success
In the early 19th century, making fire was no easy task—you either had to use flint and steel or a tinderbox, which required some serious patience. But one day, an English chemist named John Walker made a discovery that would forever change how we light fires. And, like many great inventions, it happened completely by accident.
A Sticky Discovery
In 1826, John Walker was busy in his lab mixing chemicals (as chemists tend to do) when he noticed something odd. He was stirring a mixture of antimony sulfide, potassium chlorate, and other chemicals with a wooden stick when—boom!—the stick caught fire after rubbing against the floor. To Walker’s surprise, the friction had sparked a flame.
Realizing he’d stumbled upon something special, Walker experimented further and discovered that by coating the end of a wooden stick with his chemical mixture, you could strike it against a rough surface and create an instant flame. He had accidentally invented the first friction match.
Strike Anywhere, Light Everywhere
Walker began selling his new invention as “friction lights,” and they quickly became popular. The idea of being able to strike a match anywhere to create fire was revolutionary. Imagine no longer needing flint, steel, or other cumbersome methods of making fire—you just needed one quick strike!
Walker’s matches were made of wooden splints coated with his special chemical mixture, and they were sold in small boxes, just like modern matches. He even came up with a clever name for them: “lucifers” (a cheeky reference to the light-bringer himself, Lucifer).
The Match Revolution
Although Walker didn’t patent his invention (he wanted it to be widely available), the match quickly evolved into one of the most essential tools of the 19th century. Other inventors jumped on board, refining the formula and creating matches that were safer and easier to use.