Alexander Cumming

Alexander Cumming FRSE (sometimes referred to as Alexander Cummings; 1733 – 8 March 1814) was a Scottish watchmaker and instrument inventor, who was the first to patent a design of the flush toilet in 1775, which had been pioneered by Sir John Harington, but without solving the problem of foul smells. As well as improving the flush mechanism, Cummings included an S-trap (or bend) to retain water permanently within the waste pipe, thus preventing sewer gases from entering buildings. Most modern flush toilets still include a similar trap.

This article is about the inventor. For the Australian analytical chemist, see Alexander Charles Cumming. For the Scottish politician, see Sir Alexander Cumming, 1st Baronet. For the governor of Colorado, see Alexander Cummings (territorial governor). For the Liberian politician, see Alexander B. Cummings Jr.

Alexander Cumming
Born1731/2
Edinburgh, Scotland
Died8 March 1814 (aged 82)
Pentonville, England
CitizenshipBritish
Known forWatchmaker
Clockmaker
First patent for a flush toilet (S-trap)
Church organ designer
Inventor of the first accurate Barograph
Inventor of the microtome
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