Christopher Latham Sholes

Profession: Inventor of the QWERTY Keyboard

Nationality:

Biography: While Sholes did not invent the keyboard, he integrated and innovated upon the work of prior inventors in this area. One of Sholes earliest models—made with fellow printer Samuel Soule and a lawyer and amateur inventor, Carlos Glidden—was referred to in a Scientific American article as a 'literary piano.'

Notably, the QWERTY keyboard which Sholes is best-known for inventing was designed to slow typing so as to prevent the jamming of typewriter keys from too-fast typing.

This design has continued, despite the fact that jamming is no longer a problem for computer keyboards. Some have suggested alternative keyboards would be more efficient—for instance, the Dvorak keyboard.

Born: February 14, 1819
Birthplace: Mooresburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Star Sign: Aquarius

Died: February 17, 1890 (aged 71)
Cause of Death: Tuberculosis