The History Of Colonel Sanders Is Wilder Than You Think

Although he's the founder and face of Kentucky Fried Chicken, Colonel Sanders was born in 1890 in Henryville, Indiana.

The Colonel eventually settled in Kentucky and ran a gas station and restaurant where he served meals, including chicken. Sanders was embraced by the state of Kentucky.

Colonel Sanders served an early version of his famous chicken at his gas station. The chicken became so popular that Sanders was able to open a restaurant.

When the highway that ran in front of the restaurant was moved, customer numbers dwindled and Sanders had to close up shop.

Between the time his earlier restaurant closed and when he claimed countless Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises, he lived a transitory life.

The Colonel sold his famous chicken recipe around the U.S. Finally, he began to see some success when the first KFC franchise opened in Utah in 1952.

Sanders came up with a method of preparing and cooking chicken that allowed it to stay crispy. He sold his recipe to franchisees, along with his cooking method.

What set Sanders' method apart was the innovative choice to fry it in purpose-built pressure cookers, which is how it's cooked today.

When Sanders ran his gas station, he and a rival, Matt Stewart, were in a constant struggle — not over food or gas, but signage, which led to a shootout.

Stewart received two bullets, including one in the shoulder from Sanders, and would be given an 18-year prison sentence for murdering one of the men who'd accompanied Sanders.