Your Flush, Your Majesty- 1/4 Inventions Of the Renaissance

     Yes, really, the flush toilet was invented during the Renaissance period. It was modified from a hole in a bench by Sir John Harrington, Queen Elizabeth's godson. He made it in 1596 and was teased so badly that he decided he wouldn't make another. But 200 years later, Alexander Cummings modified it and called it the water closet (Fun fact! In French blueprints today, half bathrooms appear as w/c- meaning water closet). He then also invented the strap; the sliding valve between the bowl and the trap. In 1778, Joseph Brama invented a hinged valve on the bottom of the bowl.

     This might sound a bit outlandish, but it's a legitimate invention. Here are some more facts about Sir John Harrington:

• Sir John Harrington was one of 102 godchildren to the queen.
• He was born in 1561 in Kelston, Somersetshire, England.
• He was also a writer; his most famous writing was “A New Discourse upon a Stale Subject: the Metamorphosis of Ajax.” Ajax is like the Old English slang term 'a jakes', which stands for toilet.
• His mother was actually the gentlewoman of the Queen's privy chamber, so maybe he had a natural talent for toilet modifications. This actually was also what made him a godchild.
• He was knighted as a Knight of the Bath.

     This is an important invention to mankind because it's healthier than having a nasty germy hole in a nasty germy bench. It's prevented a lot of disease. Imagine where we'd be without flushing toitlets- as crazy as that sounds- but it'd be a huge cause to disease and we'd have a much smaller population due to that. It's also very helpful... Obviously.....

     So, in conclusion, the flushing toilet is an everyday invention that you now know more about. Stay posted for more inventions :)