Sir John Harrington - Inventor of "The John"

In American slang, one of the terms used for toilet iscourt. With his free spirit and his writing talent, he
"the john." Although the phrase "the john" was firstwas able to get Queen Elizabeth I's attention.
used in the United States, the origin of the term canHis Works
be traced back to its roots in England.His first popular work was his translation of "Orlando
Sir John HarringtonFurioso" by Ariosto. Because of the sharpness of his
Sir John Harrington was born in 1561 in Somerset,initial translation, the Queen asked him to leave and
England. He was a member of Queen Elizabeth I'snot to return until he finished his work. The Queen
court and was even identified as the Queen's "saucydid not expect him to comply because it was a
grandson." He was also a writer and because of hisdifficult work. However, in 1591, he came back and
literary works, his relationship with the Queen and herwas praised for the full translation of the poem.
successor shifts in different directions.Before he wrote his most popular work, "A New
His most famous literary work is "A New DiscourseDiscourse upon a Stale Subject: The Metamorphosis
of a Stale Subject, called the Metamorphosis ofof Ajax," he invented the first flushing toilet in Britain.
Ajax." And even though he has established himself asIt was called "ajax" coming from the old English slang
a writer, he is still most known for his invention offor toilet "a jakes." When he wrote the book, "A
the first flushing toilet.New Discourse upon a Stale Subject: The
His Family LifeMetamorphosis of Ajax," he was referring to his
Sir John Harrington is the son of poet John Harringtoninvention. However, this work have political allusions
and his second wife, Isabella Markham. Because hiswhich caused him to lose the favor of the Queen.
mother was a gentlewoman of the Queen's privyHis Life as a Member of the Court
chamber, he became one of the childless Queen's 102After the Queen's death, he spent time in prison
godchildren.because of his cousins debts. Later, King James I
It has not been established if Sir John Harrington isappreciated his loyalty and brought him back to his
related to John Harrington, the first Baron Harringtoncourt as a Knight of the Bath.
of Exton. It is assumed, though, that he also belongIt is interesting to find out how the toilet got its
to the descendants of the Lord Harrington ofname. By knowing the roots of a word, students
Aldingham.learn to appreciate the value of the invention and the
John became attracted to the life at the Queen'srichness of the language.