The history of long johns, the ultimate thermal underwear-00-4233
Long johns have never really been cool as such, but in recent years they have started to develop a certain kitsch cult like status in recent years. Long johns are long thermal underwear in with two parts, a top and bottoms, however, a lot of people confuse long johns with the union suits, which are all in one thermal suits.
The production of long johns can be traced back to Matlock in Derbyshire in the late 19th Century where they are believed to have originated. Long johns were first manufactured at John Smedleys Lea Mills, although they are thought to have been named after boxer John Sullivan, who was reputed to wear a similar outfit to long johns when he fought in the ring. John Lawrence Sullivan, AKA Boston Strong Boy, is generally recognised as the last heavyweight champion of bare knuckle boxing under the London Prize Ring rules. He was also the first heavyweight champion of gloved boxing, a title he held for some 11 years, between 1881 and 1892. However, perhaps the best stat about the long johns supposed namesake is that hed already won 450 fights before challenging anyone from the whole of America to fight him for the once princely sum of $500.
While John L. Sullivan is widely credited as the namesake of the thermal underwear, there is no conclusive evidence to support this. In fact, an adjustable set of thermal underwear is attributed to Stanfields Ltd of Nova Scotia. Frank Stanfield patented the underwear in 1915, but earlier in 1898, Frank and his brother John developed Stanfields Unshrikable Underwear, so who knows, maybe that had some part to play in the name long johns.
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