There is a good chance you have eaten a sandwich within the past few days. Meat, cheese, peanut butter, or any variety of foods held between two pieces of has been a key part of menus for about as long as bread has existed.

Many people mistakenly believe the sandwich was the invention of John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich. (1718–1792). He clearly did come up with the idea, but you can thank him for popularizing it. According to one story, he loved the meal because he could eat it with one hand, leaving his other hand free to deal cards. Again, the myth seems to be more enduring than reality. His biographer says he favored the meal because he was such a hard worker, and it allowed him to eat at his desk.

Regardless of the reason, we call that meal a “sandwich” in his honor. Before it became associated with him, it was simply called “bread and meat” or “bread and cheese.”

We family seems destined to be associated with food. The First Earl of Sandwich, Sir Edward Montagu (1625-1772), came up with a treat that was made by mixing chocolate, snow, and salt. Essentially, he created the Mocha Frappuccino 335 years before Starbucks put it on the menu.

The current holder of the title, the 11th Earl of Sandwich, has a line of restaurants called “The Earl of Sandwich.” Yes, you can actually buy a sandwich from the Earl of Sandwich. Check out the restaurant’s’ website here.

One additional thing to ponder, as we consider the simple but succulent sandwich. As we have said, it owes its name to the man who made it popular, but we could just as easily be calling it something else.

The first of the earls, Edward Montagu, when he wasn’t busy inventing new desserts, had his eyes set on a different title of nobility. What he really wanted was the Earldom of Portsmouth. Instead, Charles II made him Earl of Sandwich. In other words, if he had his way, you could be eating a portsmouth for your next meal.

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