Remembering John Harington (1560-1612)

[erechwydd]

2012 has been a year for commemorating historical figures - Dickens, Lear, Henry, Prince of Wales. But it also marks the 400th anniversary of the death of one of Elizabeth I's lesser known courtiers - and the inventor of Britain's first flushing toilet - Sir John Harington. Although his lavatorial escapades are what he's known for now, Harington was much more than that: broad-minded, a poet, and a man adept at using his wit as a mask to survive the vicissitudes of the court. Tomorrow is his anniversary, and to mark the occasion I've posted about him on my blog today. Please do drop by if you're interested in finding out more about this fascinating man.

[annis]

It never fails to amaze me how many of these little-known but remarkable Renaissance men emerge from the shadows of the Tudor and Jacobean periods - clever, learned and capable men adept at warfare and politics, yet equally able to write treatises on all manner of subjects and create extempore a casual, brilliant epigram at the toss of a hat.

Thanks for this post about Sir John Harington, who indeed sounds like a fascinating and delightful man with a mischievous sense of humour. And I love his attachment to his family and his exceptional Dogge

Although his "Ajax" toilet never really took off in England (perhaps because the Queen was less than impressed by it), apparently it was widely adopted in France!

[erechwydd]

The Dogge merits a piece all of his own, really.

Yes, it's interesting that the French took the 'Ajax' up when the British chose to ignore it, perhaps, as you say, because of the Queen's indifference. Still, we did finally get around to building one, as apparently the Gladstone Pottery Museum in Stoke-on-Trent had (and may still have) a replica at one point.