The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-19
INVENTOR OF THE MATCH
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE
LATE SIR ISAAC HOLDEN.
lie Invented Lacifer Matches, but Re-
cefved None OF the Profits-WOrk
in other Lines of Invention.



TO the evening lamp. stop TO think who it
was that invented the little birthstone arti-
Gle the use of which has become well-nigh
universal Lucifet matches. they are
known and used to day, are of compare
lively recent origin. They were invented in
1SsGsixty-eight years back-by Sir Isaac
Holden. who died few days ago at his
home near Keighley, in Yorkshire, Eng
land
Had you asked a man in the street
month ago to tell something about Sir Isaac
Holden. he would probably have demand
ed: who's Holden?'
Since Holdens death interest In his life
and work has been revived. Death often
brings man to life again--this not in
spiritual sense Little has been printed in
America about Holden's wonderful career
Sir Isaac Holden was much more than the
inventor of the modern lucifer match. The
story of how he rose from a Golfers lad
and weaver's apprentice to position of
splendid commercial prosperity, and gained
a degree of afluence which was great even
in these days of princely fortunes, reads
like a romance. AS an example of what
can be accomplished by integrity of char
acter, perseverance, inventive skill and de-
termined purpose his career is one that
ed and perfected the wool-combing ma
chine as it is known and used to-day by
the greatest firms of wool combers in ex-
istence; he was a ti-millonaire; he was
one of the worlds great captains of indus
try.
Another fact that adds interest to the
mans life is that he lived to be within hail
ing distance of his ninety-first birthday,
because he was a scientific liver as we'll
as a scientific inventor. The fact that he
reached this great age and was out driving
about over the moors the day before he died
speaks well for his system. For breakfast
he had baked apple one orange, twenty
grapes and biscuit made of banana -four.
His midday meal consisted of about three
ounces of beef or mutton, with now and
then q bowl of soup. If he took little fish
he took so much less of meat. For supper
he practically repeated his breakfast menu.
In regard to eating, this his maxim:
After the system has been built up and the
period of manhood reached, all starch
foods should be banished from the human
diet. From early manhood no matter what
work was in hand or what weather over
head he never spent less than two full
hours a day in open-air exercise.
OF ANCIENT LINEAGE.
Sir Isaac resided at OakwOrth House,
near Keighley, and had a country mansion
at Wiganthorpe, near York. His eldest
son, Angus, was mayor of Bradford few
years ago. His sons, Angus and Edward,
his nephews and others, still continue the
enormous industries which he established
in England and France. He was born May
Z. 1907 at HurIet. a small village adjoining
Nfshill between Paisley and Glasgow.
His father had held a small farm at Nent-
he'd near Aston, in Cumberland, of which
place he was native. and had combined
the occupation of farmer with that of
=
to remove to Glasgow. where he obtained
enjoyment in a coal mine. The Holdens
cane of hardy and enterprising race. The
Hodens of Allandale. Nenthead and Aston
wee proud TO consider themselves descend
ed from the Iialfdane of Denmark, who,
ages ago. invaded England. and retained
possession for some time of Northumber-
lard. Cumberland and Durham, ultimately
setting down on the confines of the three
The ancestors of Sir Isaac were among
the earliest followers of John Wesley. and
livd and died stanch members of the Yves
leYn church. As the inventor advanced
toward manhood the example of his PARENTS
ant the deep sympathy he felt with all
moal and intellectual progress tended to
Civ his mind decided religious cast, and
he became a member of the Methodist
ChTch.
When Isaac was Eve years of age times
wee hard in England and Scotland. The
country had just emerged from it's war with
Anerica. which had almost drained it of
its resources and brought commercial en-
IeINlSe tif Il point OF SldEndllOH. Inc DUR
den of poverty pressed heavily upon the
WoHing classes. Thus Sir Isaac felt that
his 'ather could i'll afford to keep him at
schol and engaged himself as a draw
boy to two weayers in the neighborhood.
He continued to work as "draw-boy' for
twoyears, during which time he Went tc
nigh school. and diligently employed l. m
self improving his educa lion. Later he
foun employment in a cotton mill
Wbn about thirteen years of age lie had
the pod fortune to become pupil of John
Frasr. an able and Jealous teacher. father
of TIE celebrated Fraser family of some
fiftyYears ago. His education went on in
Varios ways. but meanwhile his father re-
mOvd to Paisley, and isaac was appren-
ticed to an uncle, shawl weaver. Put
shaw weaving proved too much for his
strenth and he gave it up IN short time.
teachr First he taught mathematics in
the Qeen-square Academy at Leeds Then
ne WIS engaged as classical master 10 the
. Castl-street Academy at Reading. A. this
establishment he was able to have wider
scopefor his talents than he had enjoyed
befor and it was there that he first turned
his md to scientific experiment and in
venti0. There he gave lectures on scecce
and istory, and formed classes IN chemis--
try. & well as teaching Latin, Greek and
Frenc to advanced classes.
How HE INVENTED THE MATCH.
1t VS. in the course Of these chemical lee
lures nd experiences that Sir Isaac discov-
cred tie lucifer match, which subsequently
provet to be of such great value TO the
worldlt large. This was in October 1929.
This sorry of this discovery has been told
by Siusaac himself in thu House of Com
mons efore a select con;llttee appointed
to inqire into the working of the patent
laws.
81 bean as an inventor" said he, ION
very sail scale. From what know was
the frs inventor of lucifer lua tches, hut it
was tn result of a happy thought. In the
mornin l used to get UP al I o'clock in
order pursue my studies. 1 employed all
that tie the flint and steel, in the Use CT
which found great inconvenience. 1 gave
lecturein chemistry at the time at large
academ. OF course, ] knew. as all other
chemist did, the explosive material that
was neessary in order to produce instan-
light wood by that explosive material.
The ide occurred to me to put under the
eXplosiI mixture sulphur.
II diothat and published 1t in my next
lecture nd showed il. There was young
man in lie room whose father was a chem
list in Lldon, and he immediately wrote to
his fatr about it. Shortly afterward luci-
fer mahes were issued to the world /
believe lat was the first occasion we had
the presnt lucifer match. and il was one
of thosenVentions some people think ought
not TO protected by patent. / think THAT
II all irentiors were like that or if We
could dtinguish one from the other the
principlmight hold good If all inventions
were aSrtained and carried into practice
with asluch facility as in this case no one
would rhaps think of taking out Il Dat-
ent. / rs urged to take out a patent i'm
mediate; but thought il was too small n
matter, nd 1t cost me so little labor 9th
erwse have no doubt il would have been
profitab'
How loiitable it would have been ii is
M ~ & Iax-C ~,