Who invented the first packaged toilet paper in the US?

Although paper was first invented in China during the second century B.C., it was not used for personal toilet necessities until the sixth century in medieval China. Joseph Gayetty is typically credited with inventing modern day packaged toilet paper, creating it for commercial use in the US circa 1857.

Several of the earliest U.S. patents for toilet paper and dispensers were granted to Seth Wheeler of Albany, New York. In 1880, the British Perforated Paper Company debuted its products. In America, the Scott Paper Company began manufacturing its version of the product in 1880. Most early toilet paper was sold in squares rather than on rolls.