The invention of the umbrella is not attributed to a single individual, as it evolved over thousands of years across various ancient civilizations such as Assyria, China, Egypt, and Greece. Early forms of umbrellas were originally designed for sun protection and date back over 4,000 years. The modern collapsible umbrella as it is largely recognized today was invented by a Parisian French merchant named Jean Marius in 1705, who created the "broken umbrella" that could fold into three segments with metal branches. Later developments include Samuel Fox's invention in 1852 of the steel-ribbed umbrella, which made umbrellas lighter and more practical for everyday use. Other significant contributions include the invention of the pocket or telescopic umbrella patented by Hans Haupt in 1928. Thus, while no single person invented the umbrella outright, Jean Marius and Samuel Fox are among the most notable figures in its development to modern form.
