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Who invented the toilet?

Sep 14, 2009

Who invented one of the most useful devices known to mankind?

Who invented one of the most useful devices known to mankind?

While Thomas Crapper is commonly given credit for inventing the first flushing toilet in the late 1800s, the first version can actually be traced back to 1596.  At this time, a British nobleman, Sir John Harrington, first engineered and invented a valve that could release water from the water closet (WC) when pulled.  Sir Harrington, who was also the godson of Queen Elizabeth I, recommended pulling the valve (“flushing” the toilet) once a day for sanitary purposes.

So if Thomas Crapper didn’t invent the toilet, why is he given credit?
Three centuries after Sir Harrington’s invention, Crapper had a successful career in the plumbing industry and did earn nine patents for plumbing products in England.  Unfortunately, none of those nine patents granted between 1861-1904 were for the flushing toilet.

While he did not invent the toilet, Crapper still has a close connection to the first patent for the toilet.  Albert Gilblin, an employee of Crapper, holds the 1819 British Patent for a “Silent Valveless Water Waste Preventer”.  This device was a system which allowed a toilet to flush effectively.  Crapper later purchased the rights for this patent from his employee and marketed the device.

So even though he didn’t invent the crapper himself, we still owe a big thank you to Crapper for helping bring the product to the masses and also to the Chinese for inventing toilet paper in 50 B.C.

Posted in Fun Facts | 41 Comments

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41 Responses to “Who invented the toilet?”

  1. destiny - October 22nd, 2009 at 7:02 am

    THNKS 4 INVENTING THE TOILET Mr.CRAPPER

  2. lucely - November 13th, 2009 at 5:46 pm

    wow i can’t believe that name!!!

  3. Sarah - November 19th, 2009 at 6:44 pm

    thnx mr.crapper i love my toilet!!! it has a very soft toilet seat!!

  4. demi - November 24th, 2009 at 10:51 am

    o wow if there wasnt a toilet i would have to go on the ground

  5. Naomi - December 1st, 2009 at 1:23 pm

    I LOVE TOILETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  6. dakota - December 2nd, 2009 at 9:02 am

    HOLY CRAP CRAAPPER THTS THE BEST THING WE COULD EVER USE THANKS CRRRRRAAAAAPPPPPEEEEEERRRRRRR

  7. heather - December 3rd, 2009 at 8:16 am

    OMG, that is funny that his last name is that…i guess that is where we got the word from. ha. but that is really cool….i looked this up when we were looking up cool inventors…lol
    funny stuff

  8. kyriah lynne - December 3rd, 2009 at 10:25 am

    crapper thats like crap funny name omg lol fm npd

  9. Lady - December 4th, 2009 at 10:13 am

    im gl@d we have toliot 2daty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  10. paul mitchell - December 4th, 2009 at 8:45 pm

    now i know why it is called the crapper.

  11. George Mary - December 7th, 2009 at 7:11 am

    Mr. crapper. Will u marry me ????

  12. Alana - December 7th, 2009 at 4:58 pm

    Someone told me that crapper invented the toilet and someone else told me it wasnt true so i looked it up and i was half right.
    I told my friends and they just laughed. im so glad that i was right. now i know why i could say crap in school. lol. i love the crapper (toilet) lol

  13. dan t - December 8th, 2009 at 12:15 pm

    OMG know i know why most people including me call the toilet a crapper, all because of mr. crapper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    !!HEY MR. CRAPPER GO CRAP IN UR CRAPPER!!!!!!!!!!

  14. eh - December 16th, 2009 at 9:54 am

    toilet rockss

  15. myyyyynammeeqahuaszfh - December 16th, 2009 at 9:55 am

    toilet rockss oh ya boobooooo

  16. Greg Messler - December 16th, 2009 at 11:45 am

    THANKS SOOO MUCH THOMAS! U ARE MY HERO!

  17. maddie + rhiyana - December 20th, 2009 at 3:03 pm

    OMG GO TOILETS AROUND THE WORLD TOILET UNITE YAY MR.CRAP GUY

  18. Bobby - December 22nd, 2009 at 9:25 am

    Mr. Crapper is a funny name!

  19. mr.crapper - December 26th, 2009 at 12:36 am

    Im not dead yet!!!!

  20. manu - December 30th, 2009 at 4:41 pm

    MLIA brought me here :) )

  21. peekaboo - January 7th, 2010 at 6:28 pm

    thank for the invention,pretty cool

  22. peekaboo - January 8th, 2010 at 7:45 am

    thank for the invent, RIP MR.CRAPPER

  23. hot wallpapers - January 8th, 2010 at 12:08 pm

    OMG!
    i didnt even think of it before reading this post that what would i have to do if there were no toilets lol….

    probably i would have to go to the open grounds or in the fields hehe

    -adil

  24. vanessa - January 21st, 2010 at 9:19 am

    THNX FOR THE TOILET IT IS VERY HELPFUL R.I.P AND WE THANK YOU

  25. shamz - January 25th, 2010 at 8:15 am

    lol i would use a bucket and a shovel if there where no toilets

  26. caleigh - January 31st, 2010 at 8:49 am

    first of all it is john crapper secand that is were the word crap came from

  27. warrior princess - February 9th, 2010 at 4:18 pm

    Wow! Thinks for the toliet my dear friend called the crapper…oh look I have to go use it! Thanks the for real!

  28. brittany - February 11th, 2010 at 7:39 am

    omg .. i would hate to have the lastname crapper.. BRITTANY CRAPPER! xD HA!

  29. french fries - February 12th, 2010 at 5:02 am

    thanks mister CRAPPER! lololololololol hahahahah that name gets me every time!

  30. balls on a stick - February 14th, 2010 at 10:31 pm

    erm…why is he given credit? Well you think about it? which one sounds more awesome? we say..oh im gonna o take a CRAP we dont say oh man i think i just herrington’d my pants, you know? it just works better

  31. myra - February 15th, 2010 at 6:10 pm

    Thanx soo much 4 the answer to my question! My dad & I were talking about this & boy oh boy am I thankful for Mr. Crapper. He saved our lives! Lol

  32. retarded spazo - February 15th, 2010 at 10:30 pm

    hahahahahahahahahahahahaha that is so silly ” Mr Crapper” rofl

  33. your best friends - February 20th, 2010 at 1:19 pm

    HEY
    LOVE THE NAME CRAPPER

    THE TOILET IS THE BEST THING WE COULD EVER HAVE! WE HAVE YOUR NAME ALL OVER OUR HOUSE!
    I AM GOING TO DO MY HISTORY TALK ON YOU!!
    YOUR SO COOL!!

  34. keara - February 21st, 2010 at 7:36 am

    wowww i would hav neva thought toilets where so historic.. hahahahahahaha :)

  35. bob - February 23rd, 2010 at 5:23 pm

    who invented the outhouse then????

  36. nick - February 23rd, 2010 at 6:16 pm

    O so thats where crapper came from and i heard that at school and i wanted 2 see if it was true but THANKU MR CRAPPER I dont no what id do with out the ”crapper”

  37. elizabeth - March 5th, 2010 at 1:46 pm

    thats a funny name i dont need a toilet i have abackyard and a shovel

  38. toilet man - March 9th, 2010 at 2:39 pm

    the toilet is a miricle if it wasn’t for crapper i would’ve been digging holes in the back yard.

  39. richie - March 10th, 2010 at 9:58 pm

    what just a name like that i would be made fun of. i still do like the toilet.

  40. walter - March 15th, 2010 at 4:01 pm

    THANK U FOR MY THRONE!!

  41. Robin - March 17th, 2010 at 11:19 pm

    Thank you Mr. John Crapper. You are a man of the ages.

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