Fact File about the Invention of the Hamburger: Invention: Hamburger *** Date of Invention: 1885 *** Name of Inventor: Charlie Nagreen *** Lifespan of Inventor: 1870 - 1951 *** Nationality of Inventor: American *** Historical Period: Second US Industrial Revolution / Victorian (1850 - 1914) *** Category: Food and Drink *** Country of Origin: America *** Facts about the Inventor, Charlie Nagreen, and the invention of the Hamburger ***

Fact 1: Who invented the Hamburger? The Hamburger was invented by Charlie Nagreen in 1885 during the Second US Industrial Revolution era of inventions (1850 - 1914).

Fact 2: Who invented the Hamburger? Prior to the invention of the Hamburger in 1885, the Sandwich had been invented in 1762 by John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich (1718 - 1792), but this was usually a cold snack.

Fact 3: Who invented the Hamburger? Biscuits were invented by the Crusaders and pies and pasties were popular in the Medieval era and the 'Ploughman's Lunch', consisting of bread and cheese, was a staple diet of farmers and many Lower Class workers. Muffins, sweet cookies, fruit, sliced meat and sausages were also a popular 'portable' or 'fast' food.

Fact 4: Who invented the Hamburger? In 1867 Charles Feltman invented the Hot Dog and some years later, in 1885, Charlie Nagreen (1870 - 1951) is credited with inventing the hamburger. An Italian called Raffaele Esposito invented the modern Pizza in 1889.

Fact 5: Who invented the Hamburger? The hamburger became popular as a fast, tasty snack as the culinary needs of society changed in America during the period known as the Second US Industrial Revolution (1850 - 1914). People moved from the traditional agricultural lifestyle working on farms and massive numbers of people flocked to the new employment opportunities offered by factories in the cities. 

Fact 6: Who invented the Hamburger? The numbers of people in the cities swelled as millions of immigrants flocked to the industrialized cities of America creating a demand for affordable food that could be consumed outside of the home.

Fact 7: Who invented the Hamburger? The origin of the hamburger is a subject of fierce debate but its name indicates a strong association with the city port of Hamburg in Germany. In the 1800's the city of Hamburg's Atlantic trade was Europe's third-largest port and the Hamburg-America Line became the world's largest transatlantic shipping company. The Hamburg-America Line steamers also carried German immigrants from the port of Hamburg to New York.

Fact 8: Who invented the Hamburger? During the 1880's nearly 1.5 million Germans left their country to settle in the United States and many departed from the port of Hamburg. The early German immigrants took their culture traditions and cuisine with them.

Fact 9: Who invented the Hamburger? In Germany a dish known as 'Mettbrotchen' commonly referred to as 'Mett', consisting or seasoned raw minced pork, was eaten on bread rolls with onions. The German immigrants introduced their dish to the United States and the Americans, not having a taste for raw meat, were soon treated to an Americanized variation of the dish that came to be known as 'Hamburgers'.

Fact 10: Who invented the Hamburger? The man credited with inventing the Americanized Hamburger, Charlie Nagreen, was born on 1870 in Hortonville, Wisconsin, United States and died on 1951.

Fact 11: Who invented the Hamburger? The early years of Charlie Nagreen were spent in Hortonville, Wisconsin, United States where he was raised by his family. Charlie Nagreen received a basic educated at basic education and left school at the age of fourteen.

Fact 12: Who invented the Hamburger? Following his education his first job was as a street vendor selling meatballs. The meatballs were not successful but on his travels he met some German immigrants who told him about the minced meat 'Mettbrotchen' dish that they ate on bread rolls, garnished with onions.

Fact 13: Who invented the Hamburger? Charlie Nagreen liked the idea of serving minced pork sandwiched in a roll and invented his version of 'Mettbrotchen' in which the minced pork was cooked. He knew that hungry visitors to the 1885 Outgamie County Fair Fair in Seymour, Wisconsin would probably appreciate such a convenient food.

Fact 14: Who invented the Hamburger? He called his snack 'Hamburgers' and they proved to be a great success as people wanted to eat as they were moving in order to enjoy the fun of the fair and visit the displays.

Fact 15: Who invented the Hamburger? He realized that his hamburgers were a perfect food for fairs and added as many other fairs as he could manage to his summer circuit and earned the nickname "Hamburger Charlie".

Fact 16: Who invented the Hamburger? The Hamburger soon became a feature of all crowded events - and the rest is history.

Fact 17: Who invented the Hamburger? In 1940 Richard "Dick" McDonald and Maurice "Mac" McDonald opened the first McDonald's restaurant in 1940 and became famous for the invention of the 'Big Mac' and the Americanized Hamburger, together with French fries, went global.

Fact 18: Who invented the Hamburger? Charlie Nagreen died on 1951 but he is remembered to this day, especially in Wisconsin, as the inventor of the hamburger.