Welcome to FunTrivia's Question & Answer forum!

Search All Questions

Please cite any factual claims with citation links or references from authoritative sources. Editors continuously recheck submissions and claims.

Archived Questions

Who is credited with inventing the pencil in the 1790s?

Question #151414. Asked by psnz.
Last updated Jul 11 2024.
Originally posted Jul 11 2024 8:29 PM.

BigTriviaDawg

Answer has 3 votes

Currently Best Answer

BigTriviaDawg

7 year member
1007 replies avatar

Answer has 3 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.

Nicholas-Jacques Conte, a scientist serving in Napolon's army, invented the pencil in 1795. Contrary to popular belief it originated as graphite, not lead. Originally, the black compound was thought to be a type of lead giving it the name plumbago.

It was called graphite only in 1789, using the Greek word ‘graphein’ meaning ‘to write’. Pencil is an older word, derived from the Latin ‘pencillus’, meaning ‘little tail’, to describe the small ink brushes used for writing in the Middle Ages.

https://www.themarginalian.org/2013/06/24/history-of-the-pencil/

Response last updated by BigTriviaDawg on Jul 11 2024.
Jul 11 2024, 8:32 PM

Sign in or Create Free User ID to participate in the discussion

Who is credited with inventing the pencil in the 1790s?

Other Similar Questions & Answers

Related FunTrivia Quizzes