1827-John Walker on England invented modern matches.  Walker discovered using a certain combination of chemicals and letting them dry on the end of a small stick could light it by striking it anywhere.  He called these modern day matches “Congreves”, alluding to Congreve’s Rocket, invented in 1808.  The chemicals he used in the original mix were antimony sulfide, potassium chlorate, gum, and starch.  Not until 1855 was the safe match patented by Johan Edvard Lundstrom, who used red phosphorus on the striking paper of the match box and the other ingredients on the end of the match, so that the only safe way to light the match was on the designated surface.