not a rocking chair...

Benjamin Franklin had a number of inventions, including bifocals, the lightning rod, the odometer, and the Franklin stove.  He also discovered, developed, figured out, improved upon, and created systems for, countless things that still influence our lives today.  Moreover, he’s one of the most oft-quoted people in history.

Indeed, he is remembered for so many things that he said and did; and several that he didn’t do.  It seems that, because of all of his clever creations, people give him credit for tons of things with which he is not associated.  When in doubt, if it happened in the 18^th century, it must have been Ben.

For example, he is often cited as the inventor of the rocking chair; but, even though no one knows its exact origin, most historians doubt the validity of that claim.  The one thing that they largely agree upon, however, is that it seems to have first appeared in England, in the middle of the 18^th century, and was used primarily as an outdoor garden chair.

It is also known that the cradle and the rocking horse had been around for quite some time before that.  In fact, the word, rocker, emerged in the 15^th century, as a description of a person who was responsible for rocking a cradle.  In the 18^th century, it also came to define an orator who put others to sleep.  It was not until 1787 that rocking chair appeared in the Oxford English dictionary.

The first outdoor rocking chairs are thought to have been built near Windsor Castle, which is why those of comparable styles are called Windsor rockers.  Wicker outdoor rocking chairs were also highly prized, as they included many creative designs.  Originally, they were made from regular chairs, to which someone had thought to attach rockers similar to those on a cradle.

Now, admittedly, that does sound like something that Ben would do; and it’s not out of the question that, somewhere along the way, he may have built a rocker.  Surely, though, he had to have, at least, used one; after all, rockers and deep thinking go hand-in-hand.  He may even have dreamed up some of his greatest inventions while rocking.  Perhaps, people assume that he invented them because porch rockers showed up in the American colonies shortly after they surfaced in England, and quickly became the most common types of outdoor porch furniture.

Of course, others around the world were making rocking chairs as well; and every area contributed its own designs.  The bentwood rocking chair, for example, was first crafted in Germany, around 1860, by Michael Thonet, from bent, steamed wood.  People loved it for its graceful beauty and affordability; and the bent-style rocking chairs are still very popular.

Somewhere around 1840, or shortly thereafter, Adirondack rocking chairs were being made from rough-hewn cedar, pine, ash, and hickory wood and twigs.  Other gorgeous, enduring favorites include the Southern wide slat rockers, mission rockers, and fanback rockers.

Today, rocking chairs are still integral to outdoor furniture groups, and are available in endless variations, including glider rockers, rocking garden benches, rocker recliners, and even kids’ rocking chairs.

I have to admit that I have loved rocking chairs since I was a kid.  In fact, I used to drive my family crazy, as I’d rock so hard that the chair would travel from one side of the room, to the other – and back.  Yes, it was very difficult for me to break that habit; but today, I’m proud to say that I’m off my rocker!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy