This is Not a Joke: Meet the Famous Plumber Named Thomas Crapper

Almost every day, we check the National Holiday calendar. Y'all know we love to celebrate things, and sometimes the holidays inspire our fun poll questions. This morning, we talked about planning vacations and channeled our inner Golden Girls.

When I asked Google about January 27th, I learned about an important historical figure who died on this day. Thomas Crapper. An English businessman and plumber from the 19th century, whom I had never heard of. I read his name, and my inner 12-year-old let out a little giggle. He was a plumber named CRAPPER?! Hilarious!

I'm immediately like "OMG Chad, did you know today is Thomas Crapper Day? He was a plumber! Isn't that funny?" Chad responds nonchalantly, "Yeah, that's where the term 'crap' comes from," as if this should have been common knowledge. I have never heard of this man in my life, have you?

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Although he didn't invent the toilet, he did make improvements to the design that made its popularity skyrocket. In 1866, he changed the water closet world forever. National Today shared this brief history of Crapper's contribution to the porcelain throne:

While Thomas Crapper was not the inventor of the toilet (a common misconception), he did perfect and promote it. While the original flush toilet was functional, Crapper added a dash of elegance to the design. His designs even saved water by adding the ballcock that stops water flowing into the toilet when the tank is full.

Establishing The Crapper & Co. showroom in London in the 1880s, he patented and manufactured various appliances, plumbing supplies, and improved features on existing products. It wasn't long before T. Crapper-branded toilets were everywhere! So it became a nickname still used as slang today.

Remember this as you use your "crapper" today! We could be in a real mess right now if it weren't for Thomas and his innovation