Robert R. Montgomery

Robert R. Montgomery (September 8, 1843 – March 7, 1930)^[1] was an American inventor who created the fly swatter in 1899 which was later approved for a patent in 1900. Prior to that, flies were usually killed with folded newspapers.^[2][3][4] Montgomery sold his patent to John L. Bennett, a wealthy inventor and industrialist, who subsequently improved on Montgomery's design.^[4]

References

1. CPL Robert R. Montgomery
2. FLY-KILLER; ROBERT R. MONTGOMERY;Patent number: 640790;Filing date: Oct 13, 1899;Issue date: Jan 9, 1900
3. Official gazette of the United States Patent Office, Volume 90, Part 1; By United States. Patent Office
4. New York Times:JOHN L. BENNETT, BEER CAN PIONEER; Inventor Dies--Also Made a Better Fly Swatter;June 7, 1966