Inventor First Introduced Roller Skates By Destroying A Mirror Worth A Fortune At A Party
John Joseph Merlin was a brilliant inventor who could cause some big public spectacles
John Joseph Merlin, the man who first patented roller skates, came up with an amazingly original idea that has remained popular for hundreds of years. While the inventor had the mental wherewithal to innovate the transportation device of leisure, he wasn’t very good at using them himself. In fact, when he first showed them off to the public in the late 18th century, he was so over the top and out of control with his demonstration that he destroyed a high society masquerade ball with the significant damage he caused after he crashed into a very valuable mirror.
Born in 1735, Merlin was from what is now Belgium and became a clock and musical instrument maker, in addition to dabbling in inventing. As a young adult, he spent six years living in Paris before he and his family moved to England in the spring of 1760. It was there that he established himself as a tradesman with his aforementioned talents.
The role of an inventor isn’t just coming up with the ideas and prototypes of innovation they believe the world needs. It’s also about getting that innovation out into the world and helping others understand…
