Alexander Cummings

Almost 200 years had passed since the invention of the original Water Closet by Sir John Harrington. Cummings reinvented Harrington's design and invented new features to it as well.

Cummings holds the first English patent for the flushing toilet which was issued to him in 1775. This patent holds a design feature which prevents sewer gases from leaking into the house where the toilet was located.

Did you know?

Pomegranates combined with cloves were used as the first attempt to making a toilet air-freshener.