John Harington
John Harington – Life, Career, and Enduring Legacy
Discover the life of Sir John Harington (1561–1612) — Elizabethan courtier, poet, translator, wit, and inventor of a precursor to the flush toilet. Explore his writings, inventions, controversies, and lasting impact.
Introduction
Sir John Harington was a colorful and multifaceted figure of the Elizabethan era: a courtier, translator, poet, satirist, and inventor. He is best known today for designing a flushing toilet prototype and for his witty, sometimes risqué writings. Though often at odds with Queen Elizabeth I, he managed to retain her favor intermittently and left a legacy that bridges literature, technology, and court politics.
In this article, we’ll explore Harington’s life, his literary output, his invention, the controversies that swirled around him, and how his memory has endured (and perhaps become mythologized).
Early Life and Family
John Harington was baptized on 4 August 1560 (though many sources list his birth year as 1561). He was born at Kelston, Somerset, England, though some sources suggest his baptism occurred in London.
He was the son of John Harington (senior) and Isabella Markham. His father acquired substantial lands—through marriage to Etheldreda Malte, an illegitimate daughter of Henry VIII—and was associated with the court of Elizabeth’s mother, Mary I, and later the court of Princess Elizabeth. Isabella Markham, Harington’s mother, had been a lady of the Queen’s Privy Chamber, which placed the family in a position close to royal circles.
Because of these royal connections, Elizabeth I stood as his godmother—a somewhat symbolic but politically potent gesture. From an early age, John navigated both the landed life in Somerset and the glitter of Elizabeth’s court.
He was educated at Eton College, and later attended King’s College, Cambridge (where he took the degrees of B.A. and M.A.). He also entered Lincoln’s Inn (the legal society), though he seemed better suited to literary and courtly life than to formal legal practice.
Around 6 September 1583, Harington married Mary Rogers, daughter of George Rogers of Cannington, Somerset. They had several children, though not all survived to adulthood.
Literary Work, Wit & Controversy
Harington was perhaps as well known in his lifetime for his sharp wit, epigrams, and courtly patronage as for serious scholarship. He circulated epigrams, comedic poems, and occasional satirical pieces.
One of his most remembered scalpel-sharp epigrams:
“Treason doth never prosper? What’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
His ambition, however, sometimes outran his prudence. One notable episode: his translation of an “improper” Italian story by Ariosto circulated at court (among ladies) caused Queen Elizabeth offense. She compelled him to leave court until he translated the entire Orlando Furioso. He complied, and his translation was published in 1591. That translation remains among the more admired Elizabethan versions in English.
In 1596, under the pseudonym “Misacmos,” he published A New Discourse of a Stale Subject: The Metamorphosis of Ajax, a treatise that described his invention of a “flush toilet” (or water-closet) and used it as allegory for social and political decay. The work contained satirical, bawdy, and political allusions (notably to the Earl of Leicester), which led once more to his temporary disfavor at court.
In his writings, Harington sometimes pushed the limits of decorum for a royal court, weaving double entendres, erotic jokes, and social critique. His closeness to royal ladies and his audacity in speech made him a favorite in some circles—and a target in others.
Under James I, his fortunes dimmed somewhat. He attempted to align with royal favor by making diplomatic pamphlets (for example, a tract on the succession to the crown), but his reputation for being the Queen’s “saucy godson” made advancement difficult. He also served as tutor to Prince Henry, the heir apparent, annotating texts for him.
In his final years, he retreated more often to his estate at Kelston, writing, managing his affairs, and contending with financial pressures.
The Invention of the Flush Toilet (Ajax)
One of Harington’s most enduring claims to fame is his design of an early flushing toilet, which he called the “Ajax” (a pun on “a jakes,” a slang word for toilet). In The Metamorphosis of Ajax, he outlined a device with a cistern, flush valve, and wash-down mechanism. Harington installed one at his house in Kelston; versions were also installed for Queen Elizabeth in her palace at Richmond and in other noble houses.
However, Harington’s design lacked what we now regard as the “S-bend” or trap to prevent smells from returning upward—a feature invented later (credited to Alexander Cumming in the 18th century).
Despite the gaps, Harington’s “Ajax” is often cited as one of the earliest efforts to mechanize waste disposal—a remarkable intersection of engineering, social satire, and courtly showmanship.
Whether the American slang “john” for toilet is directly derived from his name is debated and likely apocryphal—but the coincidence has added to his legend.
Public Service, Military & Court Assignments
Harington was not merely a writer and inventor; he participated in political and military affairs as well. In 1599, he traveled to Ireland as part of the Earl of Essex’s expedition to quell the rebellion, serving under the Earl of Southampton in command of horsemen. He kept a daily journal, which later formed part of his published writings. He was knighted on the field during that campaign.
Locally, he also served as High Sheriff of Somerset in 1592. He maintained loyalty to court politics, hosting Queen Elizabeth in his house in Western tours, and seeking to maintain influence through his literary and social networks.
Death & Posthumous Reputation
John Harington fell ill in May 1612, and died on 20 November 1612 (some sources place the year 1612) at Kelston, Somerset. He was buried in Kelston, and a floor slab in the church reflects his death year.
After his death, his epigrams were collected (e.g. in Alcilia) and his reputation as a witty, somewhat scandalous courtier endured. Over time, his invention of the Ajax toilet and his satirical works became the highlights of his enduring legacy.
Legacy & Influence
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Cultural memory
Harington is often remembered less as a major literary figure and more as the “inventor of the flush toilet” in public lore. Still, he remains a case study in the mingling of technology, humor, and court politics. -
Literary and satirical tradition
His spirited epigrams, social wit, and willingness to challenge royal protocol link him to a tradition of court jesters and satirists who used metaphor and double meaning as weapons in political discourse. -
Innovation and social commentary
His flush toilet was more than a plumbing curiosity—it served as a metaphor in Metamorphosis of Ajax for political “filth,” corruption, gossip, and purging societal waste. -
Courtier as performer
Harington’s ability to oscillate between favor and exile reminds us of the performative dimension of Elizabethan courts, where wit, danger, audacity, and loyalty coexisted uneasily. -
Enduring anecdote
The legend of the toilet invention and the pun on “john” has given him a kind of immortality in popular culture—even when much of his finer writing is less read today.
Notable Quotes
While fewer pithy quotes from Harington survive in popular memory, some lines reflect his wit and worldview:
“Treason doth never prosper? What’s the reason? / For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
Beyond this, many of his epigrams (collected posthumously) show a playful, ironic, courting style. His writings often blend jest, moral reflection, and social critique, embodying Elizabethan wit.
Lessons from John Harington
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Bravery in wit — Harington’s willingness to inject satire into political life shows the risks—and rewards—of intellectual boldness in hierarchical societies.
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Innovation need not await full perfection — his Ajax lacked some features of modern toilets, yet it pointed toward what future inventors would build.
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Symbol as message — transforming plumbing into political allegory, Harington illustrates how everyday inventions can become rhetorical tools.
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Court politics as performance — his life shows how survival in royal favor often depended as much on cleverness, overreach, and careful self-presentation as on pure loyalty.
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Legacy shaped by myth — even centuries later, it is often the toilet invention (and pun) that people recall—underscoring that memorable anecdote can overshadow deeper works.