Thomas Bramwell Welch
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Thomas Bramwell Welch (December 31, 1825 - 1903) was the discoverer of the pasteurization process to prevent the fermentation of grape juice. Welch was born in Glastonbury, England. He came to the United States when his father emigrated in 1834.
He attended public schools in Watertown, New York and then attended a seminary in Gouverneur. He then attended medical school, becoming a physician in Penn Yan, New York. Welch then relocated to Minnesota and changed his profession to dentistry. In 1865, Welch removed to Vineland, New Jersey, where a sister already resided.
In 1869, Welch discovered a method of pasteurizing grape juice so that fermentation was stopped, and the drink was non-alcoholic. He persuaded local churches to adopt this non-alcoholic "wine" for communion services, calling it "Dr. Welch's Unfermented Wine." His son Charles E Welch, also a dentist, promoted the sale and consumption of grape juice and helped found Welch's Grape Juice Company. Thomas Welch also founded a dental products company and began a dentistry journal.
Welch was a Methodist and staunch Prohibitionist, who actively worked to reduce or end the sale of alcoholic beverages in New Jersey and adjacent regions.
He died in Vineland.
