In 1860, James Spratt founded the first large-scale manufacturer of dog biscuits. What was his trade?

The world’s first dog biscuits were originally referred to as "Meat Fibrine Dog Cake." which is perhaps a little difficult to trip off the tongue. They were the brainchild of James Spratt of Cincinnati, Ohio who launched the biscuit in London around 1860. Spratt's company began operations in the USA in the 1870s and, after his death in 1880, the company went public and became known as Spratt's Patent, Limited, and Spratt's Patent (America) Limited. Spratt's pioneered the concept of animal life stages with appropriate foods for each stage.

From the start the company was known for smart marketing. It made astute use of snob appeal in the British market and was the first to erect a billboard in London. Varieties of biscuits included 'Dog Cakes' (meat fibre and fish and meat), puppy biscuits in regular and with cod liver oil, 'Malt-milk' for puppies, 'Weetmeet' (which came in different versions for different-sized dogs), 'Bonio', 'Spix', 'Ovals' in regular and mixed varieties (flavours being yeast & meat, fish, spice & cod liver oil, fibrine, and charcoal), 'Fibo' granulated kibble food, 'Rodnim' hound meal, Alsax, Speedall, as well as a tinned food variety.

Details of the entrepreneurial founder are sparse. However, it is known that James Spratt was a bright spark in more than one sense: he was originally an electrician and lightning rod salesman.