John Clark (inventor) facts for kids

John Clark (1785-1853) was a British printer and inventor. He created the very first machine that could automatically write text. This amazing invention was called the Latin Verse Machine. He also invented a special way to make cloth waterproof. This waterproof cloth was used for things like air beds.

Life

John Clark was born on November 21, 1785. He passed away on May 23, 1853. He was a cousin to Cyrus and James Clark. These two men started the famous shoe company called C. & J. Clark. John Clark was also a Quaker, which is a type of Christian group.

Air Beds

In 1813, John Clark received a special permission, called a patent. This patent was for beds, pillows, and cushions that could be filled with air. An expert named Edward Joy said this was the first patent of its kind. Clark used a special type of rubber and an air pump to fill these items.

Clark's invention meant beds would not need stuffing. Instead, they would just use air. The air pump could even be kept right under the bed. For people who were sick, the bed could be filled with hot steam or cold water. This allowed for different temperatures to help patients.

Even though a doctor used Clark's idea to make a water bed for sick people, these beds did not become very popular. They were harder to take care of than regular stuffed beds. Also, new spring beds became very common around that time.

Latin Verse Machine

Between 1830 and 1843, John Clark built a machine that could create a new line of Latin poetry every minute. He showed off his invention in London in 1845.

The Latin Verse Machine was the first machine ever to automatically generate text. It was a groundbreaking invention in the world of art and literature. It was like an early version of today's electronic literature, even though it was mechanical, not electronic. Clark's machine was made more than 100 years before the first electronic text generator. That electronic generator was Christopher Strachey's love letter generator. Clark even compared his machine to a kaleidoscope. This shows he was thinking about how machines could create new and interesting things.

Some people also saw the Latin Verse Machine as a way to question how Latin was taught in the 1800s.

Author and Printer

John Clark worked as a printer in a town called Bridgwater. He also wrote and published several of his own books.

Some of his notable works include:

• The Avalonian Guide to the town of Glastonbury, and its Environs. This was a guide book published in several editions.
• The General History and Description of a Machine for Composing Hexameter Latin Verses. Clark wrote two pamphlets describing his Latin Verse Machine.
• Don Juan. Canto XVII (1827). This book was a continuation of a famous poem by Lord Byron called Don Juan.