In 1596, Sir John Harington invented and installed the first modern flush toilet, called Ajax, for Queen Elizabeth I at Richmond Palace. This innovation represented a significant advancement in sanitation and hygiene, reflecting changing attitudes towards public health during the Renaissance. Harington's invention laid the groundwork for modern plumbing systems, influencing domestic life and urban development in the centuries to come.

Harington's satirical treatise on the Ajax Flush Toilet in 1596 cleverly intertwined humor with engineering, marking a significant moment in the intersection of literature and technology. This playful engagement with the mundane foreshadowed the Enlightenment's broader literary exploration of societal norms and the human condition, influencing later satirists like Jonathan Swift.