Who invented peanut butter?

Peanut butter was not created by a single inventor, but developed through several historical innovations over time. Ancient Aztec and Inca civilizations ground roasted peanuts into a paste hundreds of years ago. Modern peanut butter evolved in North America during the late 19th century through multiple innovators.

In 1884, Marcellus Gilmore Edson of Canada patented a process for milling roasted peanuts between heated surfaces into a thick peanut paste. In 1895, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg patented a process using boiled peanuts to create a digestible protein paste for hospital patients. Later, in 1903, Dr. Ambrose Straub patented a peanut butter grinding machine. Contrary to popular belief, George Washington Carver did not invent peanut butter, though he researched over 300 uses for peanuts.