John B. Stetson, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

John B. Stetson

American hat maker

Date of Birth: 05-May-1830

Place of Birth: Orange, New Jersey, United States

Date of Death: 18-Feb-1906

Profession: entrepreneur, inventor

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

John Batterson Stetson (May 5, 1830 – February 18, 1906) was an American hatter, hat manufacturer, and, in the 1860s, the inventor of the cowboy hat.
He founded the John B.
Stetson Company as a manufacturer of headwear; the company's hats are now commonly referred to simply as Stetsons. Stetson was born in New Jersey, the 8th of 12 children.
His father, Stephen Stetson, was a hatter.
As a youth, John Stetson worked with his father until John was diagnosed with tuberculosis and his doctor predicted he had only a short time to live.
Given this, he left the hat-making business to explore the American West, afraid this would be his only chance to see it.
There he met drovers, bullwhackers and cowboys.
The former hat-maker turned a critical eye to the flea-infested coonskin caps favored by many of the gold seekers, and wondered whether fur-felt would work for a lightweight, all-weather hat suitable for the West.