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Robert Augustus Chesebrough

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Robert Augustus Chesebrough Famous memorial

Birth
London, City of London, Greater London, England
Death
8 Sep 1933 (aged 96)
Spring Lake, Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA
Burial
Bronx, Bronx County, New York, USA GPS-Latitude: 40.891727, Longitude: -73.8663126
Plot
Crown Grove Plot, Section 13, South Part of Lot 902-05
Memorial ID
View Source
Inventor. A chemist, he created what became known as petroleum jelly, which he trade marked as "Vaseline". Born in London, England to American parents, he was raised in New York City, New York, and trained in chemistry. When petroleum was discovered, he commenced research to see how it might be used. This led to his invention of petroleum jelly, which he patented under the name Vaseline in 1872. Having trouble selling the product for use on cuts and burns, he took to the road as a pitchman and marketed it himself. Part of his demonstration was to burn his own skin and then spread Vaseline on the injury while extolling the healing properties of the product. He went on to found the Chesebrough Manufacturing Company, which later merged with the T. T. Pond Company and became known as Chesebrough-Ponds. He retired as company president in 1908. Although the medicinal values of petroleum jelly were mostly disproved during his lifetime, Chesebrough, who lived to be 96, attributed his longevity to the fact that he ate a spoonful of Vaseline every day.
Inventor. A chemist, he created what became known as petroleum jelly, which he trade marked as "Vaseline". Born in London, England to American parents, he was raised in New York City, New York, and trained in chemistry. When petroleum was discovered, he commenced research to see how it might be used. This led to his invention of petroleum jelly, which he patented under the name Vaseline in 1872. Having trouble selling the product for use on cuts and burns, he took to the road as a pitchman and marketed it himself. Part of his demonstration was to burn his own skin and then spread Vaseline on the injury while extolling the healing properties of the product. He went on to found the Chesebrough Manufacturing Company, which later merged with the T. T. Pond Company and became known as Chesebrough-Ponds. He retired as company president in 1908. Although the medicinal values of petroleum jelly were mostly disproved during his lifetime, Chesebrough, who lived to be 96, attributed his longevity to the fact that he ate a spoonful of Vaseline every day.

Bio by: countedx58



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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: Bobb Edwards
  • Added: May 15, 2008
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26832968/robert_augustus-chesebrough: accessed ), memorial page for Robert Augustus Chesebrough (29 Jan 1837–8 Sep 1933), Find a Grave Memorial ID 26832968, citing Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, Bronx County, New York, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.