James Wright (inventor)
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James Wright was an engineer at General Electric who invented Silly Putty in 1943.
The invention of Silly Putty happened by accident. During World War II, many of the rubber-producing countries in Asia were being invaded by Japan. This made natural rubber scarce and difficult to procure. Any rubber that was found was used to make tires or other supplies necessary for the war. General Electric hired Wright to try to develop a cheap rubber substitute. In 1943, Wright accidentally dropped boric acid into silicone oil, creating a substance with unusual elastic properties that would eventually be marketed as "silly putty."
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