Who Made The First Fridge And When Was It Made?

The gradual creation of the modern
refrigerator actually spans a process that began in the 18th century
and culminated with the work of German engineer Carl von Linden in 1876.

The first efforts that eventually led to the modern refrigeration
process that continues to form the basis for the fridges that grace
kitchens all over the world today. William Cullen of the University of
Glasgow first developed a process to create an artificial cooling
medium in 1748. At the time, there did not appear to be much interest
in applying the medium to use in commercial or home applications, so
the process created little in the way of interest beyond the scientific
community. It would take the better part of a century before someone
would apply the basic principles discovered by Cullen and create a
design for a refrigerating machine.

Created in 1804, the design was the work of an American inventor by the name of Oliver Evans.  However, no working prototype
appeared until 1834. At that time, Jacob Perkins built a refrigeration
machine that is often thought to be the forerunner of the modern
refrigerator. A decade later, John Gorrie designed what is thought to
be the first practical refrigerator. In 1844, Gorrie, a physician in
the United State, constructed a working unit based on the design of
Oliver Evans. Gorrie created the unit as a means of cooling the air in
facilities he set aside for patients who were diagnosed with yellow
fever. Many people credit Gorrie as being the individual who for all
practical intents and purposes invented the refrigerator.  

Carl von Linden discovered and patented an improved method of
liquefying gas in 1876, which made the process of manufacturing
refrigerator models practical. Making use of such gases as ammonia, sulfur
dioxide and methyl chloride, the new process formed the standard for
cooling agents until the late 1920's. By then, a number of accidents
related to the use of these substances as cooling agents convinced
manufacturers that a more stable element was needed. This effort led to
the development of freon, which provided the standard for cooling
agents for the bulk of the remainder of the 20th century, until the
substance was leaked to damage to the ozone layer.