Gail Borden, Jr.

Gail Borden
Gail Borden (1801–1874)
Born	November 9, 1801 Norwich, New York
Died	January 11, 1874(1874-01-11) (aged 72) Borden, Colorado County, Texas
Nationality	United States
Engineering career
Projects	condensed milk

Gail Borden, II, (November 9, 1801 – January 11, 1874) was a native New Yorker who settled in Texas in 1829, where he worked as a land surveyor, newspaper publisher, and inventor; he is most known as the developer of condensed milk in 1853. Borden coplotted the cities of Houston and Galveston in 1836. Having returned to the New York area to market another product, he set up factories for condensed milk in Connecticut, and later in New York and Illinois. Demand was high for his product by the Union Army during the American Civil War. His New York Condensed Milk Company changed its name to Borden Dairy Co. after his death.

Gail Borden, II, was born in Norwich, New York, on November 9, 1801 to Gail Borden, Jr. (1777–1863) a pioneer and landowner, and his wife Philadelphia Wheeler (1780–1828), who died at age 48 from yellow fever in Nashville, Tennessee. The details of Borden's childhood are unclear, but he moved twice with his family while growing up, first to Kennedy's Ferry, Kentucky (renamed as Covington in 1814), and in 1816 to New London, Indiana. Borden received his only formal schooling in Indiana, attending school during 1816 and 1817 to learn the art of surveying.

In 1822, Borden set out with his brother, Thomas. They intended to move to New Orleans, but settled in Amite County, Mississippi. Borden stayed in Liberty for seven years. He worked as the county surveyor and as a schoolteacher in Bates and Zion Hill. He was well known around town for running rather than walking to school every morning.

While living in Mississippi, Borden met Penelope Mercer, whom he married in 1828. The couple had six children during their 16-year marriage.

Borden and his family left Mississippi in 1829 and moved to Texas, following his brother John Borden and parents. Thomas also settled in Texas. As a surveyor, Borden plotted the towns of Houston and Galveston. He collaborated on drawing the first topographical map of Texas in 1835.