Alexander Cummings

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Alexander Cummings was a British watchmaker who invented the flush toilet. His premises were in Bond Street, London. ^[1]

The first patent for the flushing toilet (English patent 814) was issued to Cummings in 1775. In this design, the forerunner of the modern toilet, some water remained in the bowl after each flush to stop sewer gases from leaking into the house and creating an unsavory odor.

Sir John Harington had invented a water closet in 1596 with a proper flush, but no water trap. He built one in his house and his godmother, Queen Elizabeth I, used it. She was so impressed that she had one built at Richmond Palace. It was knocked down after Harington died and the toilet dropped into obscurity for nearly 200 years.

[edit] Reference

1. ^ The Development of the Flushing Toilet - Detailed Chronology 1596 onwards, Twyfords Bathrooms, Stoke-on-Trent, UK (PDF)

Alexander Cummings, in reality, did not invent the flush toilet. He contributed to the invention to make what we have now, although his system was improved, just like he himself improved Sir John Harrington's toilet.