In the Can

It was the French, who perfected the art of canning. Napoleon needed a method for keeping food unspoiled over distance and time in order to support military expansion. He offered a prize, 12,000 francs, to anyone who could invent a method of preserving food. The award went to (envelope please) Nicholas Appert in 1810. The former vintner, chef and pickle maker spent 15 years perfecting the process.