Augustus Jackson

Augustus Jackson (April 16, 1808 – January 11, 1852), was an African American businessperson, chef, ice cream maker, and confectioner from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is credited as inventing a modern method of manufacturing ice cream and for new flavor development. He is nicknamed “the Father of Ice Cream”, despite not inventing ice cream. Jackson served for twenty years as a chef at the White House in Washington, D.C., before opening his own catering and confection business.

Career
Jackson worked as a White House chef from 1817 until 1837. He cooked for United States Presidents James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, and Andrew Jackson.

After leaving the White House, Jackson moved to Philadelphia and created his own successful catering business. He developed ice cream flavors which he packaged in tin cans and distributed to other ice cream parlors in Philadelphia. Jackson eventually became one of the city's wealthiest residents at the time.

Now known as the "father of ice cream," Jackson is said to have pioneered some of its modern manufacturing methods in the United States, namely the practice of adding salt to the ice. Although mentions of salt and ice being used is mentioned as early as 1711 by English cookbook author Mary Eales in her book Mrs Mary Eales's Receipts. Additionally, Jackson developed techniques to control the custard while it was freezing. There is no evidence that Jackson patented any of his recipes or techniques. His ice cream flavors, techniques, and recipes are no longer documented.

By 1928 an article in Capper's Weekly attributed to Jackson the title of the first to make modern ice cream.

Jackson died at the age of 43 on January 11, 1852.