The first patent for the flushing toilet (English patent #814) was issued in 1775 to Alexander Cummings, a London watchmaker.  Cummings designed a toilet in which some water remained in the bowl after each flush to stop sewer gasses from leaking into the house creating an unsavory odor.   No one was aware at that time, that sewer gasses were highly explosive, as well as great bacteria carriers.

Sir John Harrington had invented a water closet In 1596 with a proper flush. He built one in his house and his godmother, Queen Elizabeth I, used it.  She was so impressed that she had a "John" built at Richmond Palace. Unfortunately, it was knocked down after John Harrington died and the toilet dropped into obscurity for nearly 200 years, until 1775 when London watchmaker Alexander Cummings patented the forerunner of today's toilet.

The belief that Thomas Crapper invented the first toilet in the 18^th century is untrue. There was a Mr. Crapper around at the time who ran a successful plumbing business in England from 1861 until he retired in 1904. He is often mistakenly credited with inventing the toilet, but he made no major contribution to the technology or design. He proudly placed his name on all the sanitary products he sold but he did not invent the toilet.  He also wrote a book called "Flushed with Pride".

Two  manhole covers at Westminster Abbey are inscribed with Crapper's name and are popular with tourists for wax-crayon rubbings

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