Who obtained the first patent for a curling iron for hair?

In 1866, Hiram Maxim applied for and obtained the first of many patents at age 26 for a hair curling iron (he also invented a machine gun bearing his name).

Regarding the background of Hiram Maxim (February 5, 1840 – November 24,1916), he was a British, American-born inventor who moved from the United States to the United Kingdom at the age of 41. He remained an American citizen until he became a naturalized British subject in 1900. He is known because he held patents on mechanical devices such as hair curling irons, a mousetrap, and steam pumps. He also laid claim to inventing the light bulb (he became involved in patent disputes to the light bulb with Thomas Edison). Plus, he even experimented with powered flight, but his large aircraft designs were never successful.

Maxim died in London in 1916. He is buried in West Norwood Cemetery with his wife and his grandson, Lt. Colonel Maxim Joubert.