Who invented umbrellas

These ancient umbrellas or parasols, were first designed to provide shade from the sun. The Chinese were the first to waterproof their umbrellas for use as rain protection. They waxed and lacquered their paper parasols in order to use them for rain.

The word "umbrella" comes from the Latin root word "umbra", meaning shade or shadow. Starting in the 16th century umbrella became popular to the western world, especially in the rainy weather of northern Europe. At first it was considered only an accessory suitable for women. Then the Persian traveller and writer, Jonas Hanway , popularised its use among men by carrying one publicly in England for about 30 years.

English gentleman often referred to their umbrellas as a ''Hanway''. Spotlight Blockchain a game changer for seed funding? Coronavirus outbreak Covaxin vaccine Cowin vaccine registration Coronavirus live news Corona cases today Covshield vaccine Sputnik V vaccine. As our twentieth birthday is approaching next year, we wanted to take a look at the history of the umbrella.

The basic umbrella was invented over 4, years ago, its early use has links back to Egypt, Greece and China. The ancient form of the umbrella was traditionally used for protection from the sun, today referred to as a parasol. They were originally made from materials such as tree leaves and palm branches, evolving to be made from animal skins and cloth as time went on. These materials were extremely expensive and difficult to source. As a result, they were almost exclusively used by royalty and nobility as a symbol of wealth.

In the desert-like climate, there was little need to create an umbrella through the waterproofing process. In the 11th century BC, the early form of the umbrella was used by those who could afford such a luxurious item. The first waterproof parasols, or umbrellas from then onwards, failed to reach Europe due to limited international trade routes.

The umbrella that provided lasting protection from rain became an acceptable accessory in Northern Europe and America during the early 's of the Industrial Revolution when heavier and more reinforced umbrellas began to be manufactured and advertised.

One such entrepreneur was an Englishman called Samuel Fox who invented the world's first successfully collapsible umbrella frame. The ancient trade of wire-drawers converted cylindrical and flexible strands of metal into wire.

To make wire, metal would be forcibly 'drawn' through a succession of holes in stone beads that gradually decreased the size of the diameter of the wire.

Initially the flexible wire produced by wire-drawers were used in making jewelry. Samuel Fox started his own wiredrawing business in Stocksbridge, Sheffield in The Telegraph had just been invented by Samuel Morse - in which enabled communication across wires and inventors were also experimenting with Electricity that also required the use of wire.

The wire-drawer Samuel Fox had chosen the right business to go into and aware of the advance of new technology he encouraged his workers to come up with new ideas. Samuel Fox looked for ways to utilize the new wire, which led to his invention of the world's first successfully collapsible umbrella frame.

Samuel Fox was not technically minded, nor had he trained as an engineer, but he was a practical person and a sharp businessman. He was aware that the umbrella was increasing in popularity but he was also aware that the umbrellas being manufactured at the time were either too cumbersome or too fragile. Samuel Fox had found the perfect use for his new, flexible wire and in he invented the 'Fox Paragon Umbrella' which became an immediate success. He also made a fortune out of using his lightweight wire for the manufacture of the hoops used to stiffen the fashionable crinoline skirts of the 's.

Samuel Fox died on 25 February but the history of the umbrella continued. In Hans Haupt invented the pocket umbrella. Later inventors developed umbrellas that could withstand storm winds and could not be turned inside out.