John Harington

Entrepreneur

Birthday August 4, 1561

Birth Sign Leo

Birthplace England

DEATH DATE Nov 20, 1612 (51)

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About

A poet by trade, he invented the first flushable toilet.

Before Fame

His wit sometimes got him into trouble with the royal court, such as when a translated racy Italian poem hit a little too close to home for the Queen.

Trivia

His invention caused his name to become a kind of euphemism for toilet.

Family Life

He married Mary Rogers, the granddaughter of Sir Edward Rogers.

Associated With

His mother Isabella Markham was a servant to Queen Elizabeth I and worked in her royal privy chamber. The Queen received his first flushable toilet.