Did Thomas Crapper really invent the indoor toilet, or is that just a myth?
History It is often incorrectly quoted that the toilet was invented by a Mr Thomas Crapper in the 18th century. Actually, simple toilets have been used since Babylonian times. King Minos of Crete owned the world’s first flushing water closet over 2800 years ago. In 1596, John Harrington invented an indoor water closet for Queen Elizabeth I. But Harrington then published a book with tasteless puns about his own invention. The toilet then dropped into obscurity for nearly 200 years. In 1775, London watchmaker Alexander Cummings patented the forerunner of today’s toilet. • 400BC – King Minos of Crete owned the first flushing water closet • 1596 – John Harrington invents the indoor water closet • 1775 – Alexander Cummings patented the predecessor to today’s flushing toilet • 1872 – Thomas Crapper developed a type of toilet – the cistern • 1981 – NASA develops a toilet for the Space Shuttle Thomas Crapper, a Br
