Also, on this day in 1838 The Great Pastry War. A brief conflict began today between Mexico and France caused by a French pastry cook who claimed that some Mexican Army soldiers had damaged his restaurant. The Mexican government refused to pay for damages. Several other countries had pressed the Mexican government for similar claims in the past due to civil unrest in Mexico. France decided to do something about it, and sent a fleet to Veracruz and fired on the fortress outside the harbor. They occupied the city on April 16, 1838, and through the mediation of Great Britain were promised payment of 600,000 pesos for the damages. They withdrew on March 9, 1839.
In 1858 John L. Mason of New York was issued U.S. patent No. 22,186 for a Glass Jar (known as the Mason Jar) “Improvement in Screw-Neck Bottles”
In 1875 African American inventor Alexander P. Ashbourne was issued U.S. patent No. 170,460 for a biscuit cutter, “Improvement in Biscuit-Cutters”.
In 1875 Asmus J. Ehrrichson was issued the first U.S. patent (No. 170,536) for an oat-crushing (oat-meal) machine.
My Mirepoix 