John Harington
Sir John Harington (1561-1612) was known as Queen Elizabeth I's 'saucy Godson'. He was born in Kelston, Somerset, England.
Although originally intending to study law, Harington was attracted early in life by Queen Elizabeth's court, his freespoken attitude and poetry gaining the Queen's interest. Although she actively encouraged his writing, Harington was sometimes inclined to overstep the mark in his somewhat Rabelaisian and occasionally risqué pieces, which included the translation of Ariosto's Orlando Furioso. This led to his banishment from court for some years but was completed in 1591.
Around this time, Harington also devised the first British flushing toilet, called the Ajax, and this was installed at his manor in Kelston, reputedly used by the Queen herself.
In 1596, Harington published a book on this invention, called The Metamorphosis of Ajax, but certain political allusions meant he was once again banished from court - he returned to his manor house in Kelston to spend more time with his wife Mary, whom he had married around 1586, and their seven surviving children.
Harington allowed himself to be knighted in 1599 by Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, in Ireland, an act which displeased the Queen - nevertheless, Harington was forgiven.
After the death of the "Mayden Monark", Harington's fortunes declined, as he spent his time variously at the court of the new King, James I, the manor at Kelston - and prison, for debt. However, he escaped, and was apparently pardoned, although earlier threatened with the Star Chamber.
Throughout this time, he continued writing; although he had given up poetry after Queen Elizabeth's death, he still wrote letters both to friends and to the King's eldest son, Prince Henry, until 1609. Some of these letters were later collected by Harington's descendant, Henry Harington, and published under the title of Nugae Antiquae in 1769.
Sir John Harington became ill in May 1612 - he died in November of that year, and is buried in Kelston.
The above picture is a relation, Lord Harington of Exton, of which there have been many, and they are often confused with Sir John Harington of Kelston (of whom a portrait, on loan from the National Portrait Gallery, London, is on show Montacute House, Somerset, England.)