1809
Nicolas Appert, "father of canning," received the 12,000 franc prize from the French government for preserving food by sterilization.

1810
Peter Durand received a patent from King George III of England for a tin-plated iron can as a food container.

1812
Nicolas Appert's "Book for All Households" was translated and published in New York.

1818
Peter Durand introduced the tin-plated can in America.

1819
Thomas Kensett, Sr. and Ezra Daggett of England canned oysters, fruits, meats and vegetables in New York City.

1825
Kensett patented the tinplated can in America.

1847
Allen Taylor, an American, patented a machine-stamped tin can with extension edges.

1849
Henry Evans was granted a patent for the pendulum press which, when combined with a die device, could make a can end in a single operation. Machinery increased individual worker production from five or six cans per hour to 50 or 60 per hour.

1856
Gail Borden was granted a patent on condensed milk.

1866
E. M. Lang of Maine was granted a patent for sealing tin cans by casting or dropping bar solder in measured drops on can ends.

1875
Arthur A. Libby and William J. Wilson developed the tapered can for corned beef in Chicago.

1876
The Hume "floater" was introduced to "float" solder onto the ends of cans as they rolled along "the line."

1877
The simplified "side seamer" for cans appeared.

1880-1890
Introduction of the first automatic can making machinery greatly increased production.

1898
George W. Cobb Preserving Company perfects the sanitary can.

1914
Continuous ovens for drying inked tinplate were introduced.

1921
Zinc oxide and other zinc compounds in an enamel lining were found to prevent discoloration of canned corn by "corn black" or zinc sulphide.

1922
Eric Rotheim of Oslo, Norway develops the modern aerosol can.

1940
Carbonated soft drink canning began.

1941
U.S. soldiers depend on canned field rations during World War II.

1955
Cans participated in A-Bomb Civil Defense Tests in Nevada. Food in those cans proved safe to eat.

1957
Aluminum was introduced in metal can making.

1960
Easy-opening can was introduced.

1965
Tin-free steel cans were developed.

1964
Two-piece can developed using less metal than traditional three-piece can.

1965
Aluminum beverage cans introduced.

1970
First Earth Day.

1972
Multi-packs of aluminum beverage cans are first introduced. By the mid '80s, they are a supermarket favorite.

1985
Aluminum can dominates beverage market.

1985
Cans deliver carbonated beverages to the astronauts in outer space.

1991
Aluminum beverage can ends are downsized. "202" and "204" ends save natural resources by using less metal to form the ends.

2000
Cans continue to bring a variety of nutritious foods to American homes.

Aluminum can "ends" or tops have been made
progressively smaller over the years in order to make
cans lighter and save natural resources. Note the difference
among the 206, 205, and 202 ends (left to right).

The aluminum beverage can's 360-degree graphics
allow for creative and eye-catching brand marketing.

Three-piece steel beverage cans. The first soft drink cans
had to be strengthened in order to accommodate the pressure
of carbonation.