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Sir John Harington

Sir John Harington (1561–1612) was the son of a gentlewoman who served in Queen Elizabeth 1's privy chamber. The Queen favored John and named him as one of her 102 god children. John grew up to become a poet in the royal court and fell in and out of favor with the queen—his poetry was occasionally risqué, as were his translations, so she would banish him from time to time for being indelicate.

In 1594, John invented a kind of flush toilet called the Ajax, a playful form of the word "jakes," the British term for toilet or privy. He made one for himself and one for the Queen during a period in which she found him acceptable. He wrote a book about it entitled A New Discourse upon a Stale Subject: The Metamorphosis of Ajax. The book, beyond describing the mechanics of the new toilet, included court scenes, family and friends, veiled references to his enemies, and biblical characters. For the sin of once again crossing the line of decency, he lost favor with the Queen.

Some say it is because of the early invention of Sir John Harington that Americans sometimes refer to the toilet as "the john." Others say it is merely a derivative of the older term "jakes." I don't use the term very often either way, but I like the idea of paying tribute to a mischievous poet in the Queen's court. To John Harington, then.

Comments

dive said…
I do so wish ruff collars and moustache wax would come back into fashion.

You are almost right, Robyn (OW! You punch hard!); however, the first documented use of the term "john" for a toilet (as you say, from "Jakes/Jacks" - still in use in Ireland) was in 1530, quite a while before John's birth.

It then disappeared (along with such words we no longer use as "gotten") over to the Colonies and dropped out of use in England; only to reappear in the Mother Country with the American Soldiers during the Second World War, which is why we tend to think of it as an American term.

I love being a pedant. Hee hee.
8:24 AM
Scout said…
Ha. I revised the last paragraph as you were reading, I suppose, so you missed how I gave a nod to the actual origin of the term. Thanks for adding the facts, though, Dive.
8:33 AM
dive said…
Doh! Hoist by my own pedantic petard.
Exits, gnashing teeth …
8:36 AM
Gina said…
There's something about the term "privy chamber" that I like. I shouldn't but I do.
1:44 PM
Neponset River Bridge Dig said…
It sounds like their relationship was one of playing roles don't you think? She being the dominant one and he being ...well,submissive in the privy chambers.

To John Harrington indeed!!
7:38 PM
Neponset River Bridge Dig said…
one more thing, My dad always calls it the head. Like, "I have to hit the head", or "where's the head in this place"?
My dad, being a Navy man, probably picked up that expression aboard ship.
7:41 PM
Mrs. G. said…
I've been waiting all day to come and check out the origin of the "john"...my day is now complete.
7:45 PM
Scout said…
Gina, it is an interesting phrase isn't it, like you've become privy to some fascinating information.

Rich, "head" is a navy term, the toilets being at the front of the ship, or the head.

Mrs. G, I was going to save this for tomorrow, but that wouldn't be nice.
8:26 PM
Cheltenhamdailyphoto said…
Yes, to John! What a great man he must have been. Writing smutty poetry whilst contemplating on the loo. Marvellous.
4:01 AM
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