John Joseph Merlin

Who was John Joseph Merlin?

John-Joseph Merlin was a Belgian inventor and horologist. He was born Jean-Joseph Merlin in 1735 in the city of Huy, which is in Belgium today. He was an inventor, noted for the invention of inline skates in 1760. He also improved musical instruments and manufactured automata, such as Cox's timepiece. He created Merlin's Mechanical Museum to display his machines. He was also responsible for the Silver Swan automaton now on display at the Bowes Museum. He worked in Paris and later in London, where he died in 1803.