January 5th: Napoleon, a Chef, and the 12,000-Franc Invention of Canned Food

    For Napoleon Bonaparte, the greatest threat to victory wasn't just the enemy army—it was the food. Watching his soldiers die from consuming spoiled rations was a challenge he was determined to overcome. At a time when the invention of the refrigerator was still 40 years away, Napoleon launched a grand competition, offering a massive reward for anyone who could find a way to preserve food safely for his marching troops.

The answer came from a French chef named Nicolas Appert. His solution was as simple as it was revolutionary: place food in glass jars, heat them thoroughly, and then seal them airtight. The results were nothing short of miraculous. People were astonished to find that ingredients remained as fresh as the day they were harvested, even after long periods of storage.

    On January 5th, 1810, Nicolas Appert, now remembered as the "Father of Canning," was awarded the grand prize of 12,000 francs. In today’s value, this would be roughly equivalent to nearly $150,000 (200 million KRW). His invention not only fueled Napoleon's ambitions but forever changed how humanity consumes and preserves food.

*Source: "On Food and Cooking" by Harold McGee

"Appert's early preservation jars: Before the metal 'tin can' was patented by Peter Durand in Britain, food was preserved in these thick, heat-sealed glass bottles."