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Often, our Special Agents answer questions that are so intriguing that they are inclined to do further research. So here is our Agents choice for question of the day:

Q:  Who invented breakfast cereal?
A:  The first packaged breakfast cereal, Granula was invented by James Caleb Jackson in 1863.

Dr. James Caleb Jackson was born in upstate New York in 1811. In his younger days, he worked as an abolitionist and lecturer.  Saddled with very poor health, he sought a water cure and became a strong proponent of hydropathy.  He obtained a medical degree and operated a health spa. The spa became famous and attracted notables of the time.

In addition to water treatments performed at the spa, Dr. Jackson advocated a healthy diet with emphasis on fruits, vegetables and whole grains.  He is credited with inventing the first cold breakfast cereal, Granula, a hard bran product that had to be soaked overnight prior to eating.  Sales of the product were a lucrative sideline for him.

One of the patrons at Dr. Jackson’s spa was a woman by the name of Ellen G. White who later went on to form the Seventh Day Adventist religion.  One of the members of her newly formed church was John Kellogg and, as you might guess, breakfast history took off from there!

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Source: http://dansville.lib.ny.us/historyo.html