OCTOBER 12, 1824

Of all the incredible inventions to come out of Scotland, you could argue the Mackintosh raincoat is the most appropriate.

Its waterproof material was perfected by Scottish chemist Charles Macintosh, and he is said to have sold his first raincoat on October 12, 1824.

His invention came about while the chemist was experimenting with waste products from coal-gas works in Glasgow.

Macintosh developed a technique first trialled by Edinburgh surgeon and chemist, James Syme, which sandwiched two sheets of cloth with a solution of dissolved Indian rubber to create a waterproof fabric.

He officially stamped his name on the product with a patent in June 1823.

But Macintosh’s invention was met with scepticism from tailors in Glasgow, so his first sale wasn’t actually to the public, but the Royal Navy.

Explorer John Franklin and his crew were outfitted with the material during their exploration of the Arctic, in 1824.

The reason for the additional “k” is still unknown, but it’s believed the repeated misspelling of the inventor’s surname meant “Mackintosh” has stuck to the present day.