The Tudor Society

November 20 – Sir John Harington and his flush toilet

On this day in history, 20th November 1612, in the reign of King James I, Sir John Harington died.

Harington was a courtier and author, and also the late Queen Elizabeth I's godson.

In Elizabeth I's reign, he had invented the Ajax, or “jakes”, England’s first flush toilet.

Find out more about Sir John Harington and his invention...

How much do you know about the inventors and inventions of the Tudor period? Test your knowledge with a quiz - click here.

And you can find out more about 16th century inventions in a talk here.

Exit mobile version