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Joseph Brahma 1778

The first "necessary" ever built in English history, was built by Sir John Harington. He built the toilet in 1596 for his godmother, Queen Elizabeth I, and installed it for her use in Richmond Palace. Although the Queen did use it, the toilet and Harington were subject to great ridicule. Harington never made another. It would be another 200 years before the idea took hold again.

In 1778, Joseph Brahma, a locksmith and engineer, patented an improved version of the modern toilet. It included two hinged valves. An original is still used today in the House of Lords. The "Brahma" also became a prototype for closets on boats and ships. The technology and engineering patented by Brahma has been improved upon and is still in use today.