Marcellus Gilmore Edson

Marcellus Gilmore Edson (February 7, 1849 - March 6, 1940) of Montreal, Quebec was the first person to patent peanut butter, in 1884. Peanut flour already existed. His cooled product had "a consistency like that of butter, lard, or ointment" according to his patent application. He included the mixing of sugar into the paste so as to harden its consistency.

Edson, a chemist (pharmacist), developed the idea of peanut paste for people who could hardly chew on solid food, a not uncommon state back in those days. Peanut paste was initially sold for six cents per pound.