MATCHES

Found in Paris, France

Stockton on Tees, home of the chemist John Walker who discovered the first friction match in 1826. He found that a stick coated with chemicals burst into flame when scraped across his hearth at home. Walker’s friction match revolutionized the production, application and portability of fire. He sold his first “friction light” on April 12, 1827 from his pharmacy in Stockton on Tees. Walker didn't patent his match and in 1829 Samuel Jones of London copied his idea and launched his own “Lucifers.”

Matches are sometimes referred to as “lucifers” because of Samuel Jones’ brand name. The term originates from the Latin word “Lucifer,” meaning “light-bearer.”