The inventor of the lawn was Edwin Beard Budding, who was recorded as patenting the first lawnmower in 1830. While the modern market is overflowing with different types of lawnmowers, the first lawn-cutting machine has humble beginnings.
Let's discover what originated unique models like Mowrator's S1 Remote Control Lawn Mower.
Key Takeaways
- The lawn mower was invented by Edwin Budding in 1830, with successive improvements by individuals like John Burr and Thomas Green later in the 19th century.
- The 1800s saw a wider adoption of lawnmowers, while the 1900s introduced gas-powered, electric lawnmowers, and robotic mowers.
- The latest lawn mower technology includes AI features, with remote-controlled lawn mowers increasing in popularity worldwide.
Who is Credited with Inventing the Lawn Mower?
According to the Old Lawnmower Club, Edwin Budding, a 19th-century engineer from Gloucestershire, England, is credited with inventing the lawn mower. Before lawnmowers existed, livestock like sheep and cattle would be used to maintain the length of the grass. On occasion, wealthy landowners would even hire workers to cut grass with large scythes if sporting events were taking place or as a status symbol.
By the 1820s, trimmed lawns were becoming more popular — especially for sports grounds like golf and football. In response, so the story goes, Edwin was inspired when he passed by a cutting cylinder at a local cloth mill. He partnered with a local engineer, John Ferrabee, to take the cylinder and place blades that would cut grass as the cylinder span.
John Ferrabee and Edwin Budding attached this cylinder to a frame of heavy iron, added wheels, a rear roller, and a handle, and patented the first rotary lawn mower on the 31st of August 1830. Budding advertised his new invention, claiming “country gentlemen may find using my machine themselves an amusing, useful and healthy exercise”. The first recorded purchase of Edwin Budding's new invention was by the Regent’s Park Zoological Gardens in London, which needed the reel mower to mow their expansive gardens.
While Budding's mower was designed primarily for large gardens like this, it soon found a home in many wealthy homes in England.
Did John Burr Invent the Lawn Mower?
John Albert Burr didn't invent the first lawn mower but made significant improvements to Budding's original design and filed a patent for his innovative rotary design in 1899. Burr improved the design by adding wheels that offered better traction, better rotary blades that prevented clogging, and a design that allowed for the cutting blade to reach closer to edges and walls.
Burr held over 30 U.S. patents that covered lawn care and agriculture, so we have him to thank just as much for influencing modern lawnmowers as Budding.
Timeline of the Lawn Mower | Innovation to Adoption
The lawnmower's journey began in 1830 with Edwin Beard Budding's mechanical invention, evolving through innovations like gasoline-powered mowers in 1919 and AI-driven robotic mowers in the 2020s.
| Year | Lawn Mower Innovation |
|---|---|
| 1830 | Invention of the First Lawnmower: Edwin Beard Budding invents the first mechanical lawnmower. |
| 1850s | Improvements and Wider Adoption: Thomas Green & Son introduced the "Silens Messor" (Silent Mower) in 1859, which used a chain drive instead of gears, making it quieter and more efficient. Lawnmowers became more affordable and accessible, increasing popularity among the middle class. |
| 1890s | Horse-Drawn and Motorised Mowers: Larger lawns were maintained using horse-drawn mowers. Horses wore leather boots to prevent lawn damage. The first experiments with motorised mowers began, using small internal combustion engines. |
| 1919 | Introduction of Gasoline-Powered Rotary Mower: Colonel Edwin George in the United States developed a gasoline-powered mower with rotary blades, enhancing efficiency and making mowing accessible to more homeowners. |
| 1920s | Rise of Gas-Powered Mowers: Gasoline mowers became more affordable and widespread. Companies like Toro and Briggs & Stratton began producing reliable engines for mowers. |
| 1950s | Introduction of Electric and Hover Mowers: Electric lawn mowers were introduced, offering a cleaner alternative to gas mowers. Flymo, a UK company, developed the hover mower in 1964, which floated on an air cushion, making it highly manoeuvrable. |
| 1990s | Introduction of Robotic Mowers: Husqvarna launched the Automower in 1995, the world's first commercial robotic lawn mower, capable of autonomous operation within a defined area. |
| 2000s | Technological Innovations: Robotic mowers became more sophisticated with GPS navigation, programmable schedules, and improved sensors. Lithium-ion batteries enhanced the efficiency and runtime of cordless mowers. |
| 2020s | AI Integration and Remote Control Mowers: Artificial Intelligence enhanced robotic mowers' navigation and obstacle avoidance capabilities. Companies like Mowrator create powerful remote-controlled lawn mowers that make lawn mowing a breeze. |
We've come a long way from when two people in the 1830s pushed a mower from behind. You can now control lawnmowers remotely using intuitive remote controls, letting anyone manage their lawn regardless of age. If you want to mow the lawn with the forefront of lawn care technology, consider browsing Mowrator's collection of remote-controlled lawn mowers today.
FAQs on Who Invented the Lawn Mower?
Was the lawn mower invented in Australia?
No, the lawn mower was not invented in Australia. However, Aussies can still be proud of making major lawnmower innovations in the 1900s. Mervyn Victor Richardson invented the Victa lawn mower in the 1940s, becoming extremely popular internationally. Over 7 million Victa mowers were sold both domestically and globally by 1997.
When was the first U.S. manual lawn mower patented?
The first U.S. patent for a manual mower was in 1868, submitted by Amariah Hills of Connecticut. Two years later, Elwood McGuire would design a push mower meant for a vast commercial market — it became instantly popular.
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