László Bíró

NAME László József Bíró

WHAT FAMOUS FOR László Bíró is famous for inventing the ballpoint pen, which revolutionized writing instruments by creating a pen that used quick-drying ink and a rolling metal ball to apply it to paper.

BIRTH Bíró was born László József Schweiger on September 29, 1899, in Budapest, Hungary.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Bíró came from a Jewish family. His father, Mózes Mátyás Schweiger, was a successful dentist and dental technician from Hódmezővásárhely. Bíró's mother was Janka Ullmann. His family’s middle-class status allowed him to pursue various intellectual and creative endeavors.

It's worth noting that László József Bíró was born with the surname Schweiger. The family name was officially changed to Bíró by a decree from the Hungarian Ministry of Interior on February 11, 1905.. His father was also described as an inventor who experimented with developing cartridges for fountain pens, which may have influenced László's later work on writing instrument.

CHILDHOOD Bíró was curious and inventive from a young age, displaying a keen interest in mechanics and science. He was always thinking of ways to improve everyday objects.

EDUCATION His was developed through practical experience and collaboration with others, particularly his brother György, who had a background in chemistry.

CAREER RECORD Bíró began his career as a journalist.

In 1938, Bíró, along with his brother György, who was a chemist, developed the first working ballpoint pen. He patented it in 1938, and by the 1940s, the pen was a global sensation, especially after its success in World War II when it was supplied to Royal Air Force airmen due to its reliability at high altitudes.

APPEARANCE Bíró was often seen in simple, utilitarian clothing, reflecting his practical, inventive mindset. His appearance was modest and professional, typical of an intellectual of his time.

Ladislao Biro

FASHION László Bíró was not known for fashion, preferring functionality over trends, a reflection of his practical approach to life and work.

CHARACTER Bíró was known for his creativity and persistence. He was a visionary who saw solutions to problems others took for granted. His dedication to improving everyday life marked him as a problem solver.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Bíró’s ingenuity and the playful nature of some of his inventions suggest a man who enjoyed clever ideas and practical jokes.

His autobiography was described as "witty and entertaining" 

RELATIONSHIPS He married Erzsébet Schick, who was nine years younger, on November 2, 1931.They had one child, a daughter, Mariana.

Bíró maintained close ties with his family, especially his brother György, with whom he worked on many inventions. 

MONEY AND FAME Had Bíró retained the patent for his ballpoint pen, his estate would have been worth billions today. However, he sold the patent to Baron Marcel Bich in 1945, who later founded the Bic company and made the pen globally successful. Despite not becoming extraordinarily wealthy, Bíró's invention secured his fame worldwide.

FOOD AND DRINK Living in Budapest and later Buenos Aires, he was likely exposed to both Hungarian and Argentine cuisine.

MUSIC AND ARTS Bíró was a multi-talented individual who engaged in various creative endeavors beyond his inventions. One of these pursuits was surrealist painting. Surrealism was an artistic movement that emphasized the subconscious and dream-like imagery. 

LITERATURE László Bíró began his journalistic career in Hungary in his twenties. His articles appeared in prominent newspapers such as Pesti Napló and Pesti Hírlap. He also held the position of editor of the art journal Hongrie-Magyarország-Hungary, specifically serving as the editor of Hongrie from 1933 to 1934.

Bíró's investigative journalism style was often described as fictional. One source mentions an article he wrote titled "The British air force will only accept candidates who can hold their breath for at least 68 seconds."

Bíró was known for his unconventional work habits. He rarely visited the office, preferring to write from the comfort of Budapest's Japan Café. This café catered to journalists and provided them with essential writing tools, including proof slips, hand-blotters, and pens, which Bíró used daily.

His work as a journalist directly inspired the invention of the ballpoint pen. Frustrated by the limitations of traditional fountain pens, which were slow to fill, prone to splattering, and often left smudged pages, Bíró sought a more practical solution.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Bíró was a man of many talents, dabbling in activities such as race car driving, which suggests he enjoyed hands-on, fast-paced hobbies.

SCIENCE AND MATHS Bíró's inventions demonstrate a deep understanding of both science and mechanics. His collaboration with his brother György, a chemist, was crucial to the development of his most famous invention, the ballpoint pen.

INVENTIONS  Now, I'm no expert on the finer points of penmanship, but even I can appreciate a good story. And the story of the ballpoint pen is a doozy. It all starts with a Hungarian journalist named László Bíró. Picture this guy, sitting at his desk, wrestling with a fountain pen that's more trouble than it's worth. The ink's all over the place, the nib keeps skipping, and it's about as much fun as trying to herd cats.

Bíró, being the clever sort, starts noticing things. He sees how newspaper ink dries instantly, leaving a clean, smudge-free mark. He tries using that ink in his fountain pen, but nope, it's too thick. It's like trying to squeeze toothpaste through a straw.

Then, one day, Bíró's got a eureka moment. He's watching kids play with marbles in a puddle, and he sees how they leave a trail of water behind them. A lightbulb goes off in his head. "Why not use a ball-shaped nib for writing?" he thinks. And just like that, the ballpoint pen was born.

Bíró and his brother, György, spent years tinkering with the design, perfecting the ink and the nib. They finally patented their invention in 1938, just in time to flee the Nazis and head to Argentina. There, they formed a company called Biro Pens of Argentina, and started making these nifty little writing instruments.

Word of the ballpoint pen eventually reached the ears of a French businessman named Marcel Bich. He saw the potential in this little gadget and bought the patent from Bíró. 

Milton Reynolds, a man with an eye for a good thing, stumbled upon the Biro ballpoint pen during a jaunt to Argentina. It was a curious little contraption, a far cry from the fountain pens that were the norm. Reynolds, ever the entrepreneur, saw its potential. He promptly founded the Reynolds International Pen Company and set about manufacturing his own version, the Reynolds Rocket. This wonder pen, advertised as capable of writing underwater, debuted at Gimbel's department store in New York City on October 29, 1945, with a price tag of a whopping $12.95. Despite the hefty price, the Rocket was an instant hit. A cool hundred thousand dollars worth of pens flew off the shelves on the very first day.

The rest, as they say, is history. Bic has sold billions of ballpoint pens worldwide, and we've all been writing with them ever since.

Bíró is most famous for the ballpoint pen, but he also developed several other inventions, including a lock, a heat-proof tile, and a device for recording blood pressure.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Born in a Jewish family, Bíró  and his wife converted to Lutheranism  on August 20, 1938.

POLITICS Bíró, a Hungarian Jew, fled Europe during World War II, settling in Argentina. This move likely influenced his worldview, but he remained focused on his inventions rather than political activism. 

MILITARY RECORD  His invention played a crucial role during World War II, particularly when ballpoint pens were supplied to Royal Air Force pilots, as they did not leak at high altitudes.

HOMES Bíró lived in Budapest before fleeing Nazi-occupied Europe and eventually settled in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1943, where he spent the remainder of his life.

TRAVEL Bíró traveled extensively, living in several countries throughout his life. His most significant move was from Hungary to Argentina, where he continued developing his inventions.

DEATH Bíró died on October 24, 1985, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he had spent the last part of his life refining his inventions.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Bíró’s invention became an essential part of daily life, making his name synonymous with the ballpoint pen. In many countries, the word "biro" is used as a generic term for ballpoint pens. His story has been documented in various historical records and media about innovation.

ACHIEVEMENTS Invented the ballpoint pen, an item that transformed writing worldwide.

Argentina celebrates Inventor’s Day on his birthday, September 29th.

His invention was crucial during World War II, used by RAF pilots.