| H. B. Reese | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 24, 1879 York County, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | May 16, 1956 (aged 76) West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Residence | Hershey, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | H.B. Reese, HB Reese, Harry Burnett Reese, Harry Reese, Mr. Reese's |
| Occupation | Confectioner |
| Known for | Founder of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups |
| Website | |
| www.reeses.com | |
Harry Burnett "H. B." Reese (May 24, 1879 – May 16, 1956) was an American inventor, and founder of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and of the H. B. Reese Candy Co., he was born in York County, Pennsylvania on a farm. Said to have worked odd jobs such as butcher or salesman in his youth, he eventually married around 1900 and went on to have 16 children. After marrying, he moved his family in 1903 to Woodbine, where he worked managing his father-in-law's dairy farm. However, he would move to Freedom, Pennsylvania to take a job in a factory, in order to feed his ever growing family.
He first moved to Hershey, Pennsylvania in 1917, where he worked for on a dairy farm owned by The Hershey Company. He did well until the farm was closed by Hershey's. Not long after moving his family to Spring Grove, Pennsylvania, Reese moved back to Hershey, again working for Hershey's. Inspired by his work, Reese began experimenting with candies in his basement, developing some candies he named after his children, the "Lizzie Bar", and the "Johnny Bar". After several failed candy-related business ventures in the region, by 1920 he was manufacturing peanut butter cups—then called penny cups because they sold for one cent—among other small candies and assortments.[1] Reese initially sold these candies in retail, and soon also in bulk. It was not long before he started the H. B. Reese Candy Co..
During World War II, economic constraints and material availability led him to discontinue his other candies and concentrate solely on his peanut butter cups, his most popular offering.
Reese died on May 16, 1956 of a heart attack in West Palm Beach, Florida, eight days before his 77th birthday.[2]