Ashbourne is known for receiving a patent for a biscuit cutter, the cutter had a board to load and unload biscuits easily , he also received a patent for the process of refining oil.
1820
1915
Philadelphia, USA.
African American
November 20th1875
Received his first patent for his biscuit cutter
August 21st 1877
Received his second patent for processing coconut oil
Ashbourne was born into slavery in Philadelphia around 1820, there is a small number of documented facts surrounding his personal life. From the literature that exists it is known that he grew up cutting wheat alongside his family members. In his youth Ashbourne began to envision more efficient ways to cut wheat, to make the process easier for him, his family and other enslaved people, his owners refused to opt for these ideas.
The exact date of his emancipation is unknown but by 1847 all enslaved people were released, Ashbourne disappeared from public record until 1863.
When Ashbourne re-emerged working as a caterer, mainly catering weddings of the wealthy elite in Philadelphia. By this time, he was well known and respected in the city by this point and was one of only a handful of local caterers for the Emancipation Celebration held in the city.
It was at this event that Ashbourne noticed that biscuits were simply hand patted and lacked any real form. He then began a decade long process to create a device. This device would be a spring-loaded biscuit cutter that would guarantee a uniform shape and size. He applied for the patent on May 11th, 1875, and on November 20th 1876 he was granted the patent. The patented cutter had a board to load and unload biscuits easily. There were also metal plates with various shapes.
He continued to invent and received a second patent for processing coconut oil on August 21, 1877, the process included filtration, bleaching , high temperature heating and hydrogenation to ensure that no unsaturated fatty acids were left in the oil. Thanks to Ashbourne’s early work, coconut oil is used in hair products, foods, and scented products. In total Ashbourne received 4 patents.
Alexander P. Ashbourne did marry and have a family, but there is little specific information on his family life. Sometime after 1880 Ashbourne left Philadelphia and moved to Oakland, California to run a convenience store. He died in Oakland at the age of 95.
Image 1- https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/alexander-p-ashbourne-1820-1915/
Image 2- https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/alexander-p-ashbourne-1820-1915/
https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/alexander-p-ashbourne-1820-1915/
https://blackthen.com/in-1875-this-man-enhanced-the-art-of-making-biscuits-heres-how/
