Clarence Frank Birdseye II was an American inventor, entrepreneur, and naturalist. source
Clarence Frank Birdseye II was an American inventor, entrepreneur, and naturalist.
Clarence Birdseye is considered to be the founder of the modern frozen food industry. source
Clarence Birdseye is considered to be the founder of the modern frozen food industry.
Clarence Birdseye was born in Brooklyn, New York, on December 9, 1886. source
Clarence Birdseye was born in Brooklyn, New York, on December 9, 1886.
Clarence Birdseye attended Montclair High School in New Jersey, and due to financial difficulties completed only two years at Amherst College, where his father and elder brother had earned degrees. source
Clarence Birdseye attended Montclair High School in New Jersey, and due to financial difficulties completed only two years at Amherst College, where his father and elder brother had earned degrees.
Clarence Birdseye began his career as a taxidermist. He also worked in New Mexico and Arizona as an “assistant naturalist”, a job that involved killing off coyotes. source
Clarence Birdseye began his career as a taxidermist. He also worked in New Mexico and Arizona as an “assistant naturalist”, a job that involved killing off coyotes.
Clarence Birdseye also worked with entomologist Willard Van Orsdel King (1888-1970) in Montana, where, in 1910 and 1911. source
Clarence Birdseye also worked with entomologist Willard Van Orsdel King (1888-1970) in Montana, where, in 1910 and 1911.
Clarence Birdseye captured several hundred small mammals, and King removed several thousand ticks for research, isolating them as the cause of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. source
Clarence Birdseye captured several hundred small mammals, and King removed several thousand ticks for research, isolating them as the cause of Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Clarence Birdseye's next field assignment, off and on from 1912 to 1915, was in Labrador in the Dominion of Newfoundland (now part of Canada), where he became further interested in food preservation by freezing, especially fast freezing. source
Clarence Birdseye's next field assignment, off and on from 1912 to 1915, was in Labrador in the Dominion of Newfoundland (now part of Canada), where he became further interested in food preservation by freezing, especially fast freezing.
Clarence Birdseye discovered that the fish he caught froze almost instantly, and, when thawed, tasted fresh. source
Clarence Birdseye discovered that the fish he caught froze almost instantly, and, when thawed, tasted fresh.
Clarence Birdseye recognized immediately that the frozen seafood sold in New York was of lower quality than the frozen fish of Labrador, and saw that applying this knowledge would be lucrative. source
Clarence Birdseye recognized immediately that the frozen seafood sold in New York was of lower quality than the frozen fish of Labrador, and saw that applying this knowledge would be lucrative.
Clarence Birdseye's journals from this period, which record these observations, are held in the Archives and Special Collections at Amherst College. source
Clarence Birdseye's journals from this period, which record these observations, are held in the Archives and Special Collections at Amherst College.
In 1922, Clarence Birdseye conducted fish-freezing experiments at the Clothel Refrigerating Company, and then established his own company, Birdseye Seafoods Inc., to freeze fish fillets with chilled air at -43 °C (-45 °F). source
In 1922, Clarence Birdseye conducted fish-freezing experiments at the Clothel Refrigerating Company, and then established his own company, Birdseye Seafoods Inc., to freeze fish fillets with chilled air at -43 °C (-45 °F).
Clarence Birdseye created a new company, General Seafood Corporation, to promote this method. In 1925, his General Seafood Corporation moved to Gloucester, Massachusetts. source
Clarence Birdseye created a new company, General Seafood Corporation, to promote this method. In 1925, his General Seafood Corporation moved to Gloucester, Massachusetts.
Clarence Birdseye's invention was subsequently issued as US Patent #1,773,079, marking the beginning of today's frozen foods industry. source
Clarence Birdseye's invention was subsequently issued as US Patent #1,773,079, marking the beginning of today's frozen foods industry.
Clarence Birdseye took out patents on other machinery, which cooled even more quickly, so that only small ice crystals could form and cell membranes were not damaged. source
Clarence Birdseye took out patents on other machinery, which cooled even more quickly, so that only small ice crystals could form and cell membranes were not damaged.
In 1927, Clarence Birdseye began to extend the process beyond fish to quick-freezing of meat, poultry, fruit, and vegetables. source
In 1927, Clarence Birdseye began to extend the process beyond fish to quick-freezing of meat, poultry, fruit, and vegetables.
In 1929, Clarence Birdseye sold his company and patents for $22 million to Goldman Sachs and the Postum Company, which eventually became General Foods Corporation, and which founded the Birds Eye Frozen Food Company. source
In 1929, Clarence Birdseye sold his company and patents for $22 million to Goldman Sachs and the Postum Company, which eventually became General Foods Corporation, and which founded the Birds Eye Frozen Food Company.
In 1930, the company began sales experiments in 18 retail stores around Springfield, Massachusetts, to test consumer acceptance of quick-frozen foods. source
In 1930, the company began sales experiments in 18 retail stores around Springfield, Massachusetts, to test consumer acceptance of quick-frozen foods.
The "Birds Eye" name remains a leading frozen-food brand. Clarence Birdseye was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2005. source
The "Birds Eye" name remains a leading frozen-food brand. Clarence Birdseye was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2005.
Clarence Birdseye died on October 7, 1956, of a heart attack at the Gramercy Park Hotel. He was 69 years old. source
Clarence Birdseye died on October 7, 1956, of a heart attack at the Gramercy Park Hotel. He was 69 years old.
Clarence Birdseye was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea off Gloucester, Massachusetts. source
Clarence Birdseye was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea off Gloucester, Massachusetts.
In 2012 the first book-length biography of Clarence Birdseye, Mark Kurlansky's Birdseye: The Adventures of a Curious Man, was published by Doubleday. source
In 2012 the first book-length biography of Clarence Birdseye, Mark Kurlansky's Birdseye: The Adventures of a Curious Man, was published by Doubleday.
