The Sweet Truth: Was the Cotton Candy Machine Invented by a Dentist? The Full Story
By Someone Who’s Dug Deep Into Snack History and Seen the Irony Up Close
Table of Contents
The Short Answer: Yes, But It’s More Nuanced
Let’s settle this once and for all—from all the weird snack origin stories I’ve seen, the story of cotton candy stands out, mainly because people love to bring up that a dentist helped invent it. And yep, it’s true: a dentist helped make the first machine that turns sugar into those fluffy, cloud-like puffs we call cotton candy. That dentist was William Morrison, and his partner was John C. Wharton, a candy maker. But as with most stories, there’s more to it than just a yes or no.
When I first heard the trivia—“Did a dentist really invent cotton candy?”—I thought it sounded too funny to be true. Why would a dentist, who wants to fight cavities, help invent a treat that’s just sugar? So I looked into it more. What I found was much cooler than just a good joke. Morrison and Wharton, working in Nashville, Tennessee, weren’t trying to cause dental problems. They were just being creative and loved making treats, and the timing was just right.
Now let’s see who these guys were and how it all happened.
Meet the Real Inventors: William Morrison and John C. Wharton
William Morrison: The Dentist and Lawyer
Whenever I tell this story, people get stuck on the dentist part. William Morrison wasn’t just a dentist—he was also a lawyer, came up with new ideas, and liked to start businesses. Most of the dentists I know just work on teeth, help with gums, and sometimes deal with a china dental lab or two for crowns and bridges.
But Morrison did more. He worked as a dentist in Nashville in the late 1800s and early 1900s, but he liked to explore new things. He also became a lawyer just because he wanted to. Still, from what I found, there’s no real sign his dental work gave him the idea for spun-sugar candy. He didn’t invent this to make people get more fillings. He just happened to be a dentist who liked figuring things out.
What I find funny is how Morrison’s story changes what we think about “normal” dentists. Who’d guess your regular dentist might also want to be a candy creator?
John C. Wharton: The Confectioner
Now, Morrison wasn’t working alone. John C. Wharton, a candy maker from Nashville, helped too, since he actually knew how to make sweets that people wanted to eat. Wharton isn’t as famous as Morrison, but he was super important for the project.
From what I’ve found, when inventors work together from separate worlds—like medicine and candy—you get the best kinds of surprises. Morrison had the know-how with machines, and Wharton knew what made treats taste good. Together, they showed that mixing different kinds of knowledge can lead to something cool.
The Birth of “Fairy Floss”: An Electric Candy Machine
The Invention and Patent
Back in the late 1890s, candy was made by hand. If you wanted spun sugar, you needed a candy maker, a hand spinner, and a lot of patience. It was slow and not easy to do a lot at once.
This was where Morrison and Wharton made a difference. Together, they built a machine that changed candy for good. Their “Electric Candy Machine” (that’s what the patent says) was made in 1897, though they filed the main patent in 1902 (Patent No. 711,040). I’ve looked at the real patent. The drawing kind of looks like a mix between a mixing bowl and a crazy toy.
How’d it work? Pretty simple. You pour in sugar, it gets heated until it melts, and then spinning throws the liquid sugar out tiny holes, where it cools and turns into those puffy threads. If candy makers from the old days saw this, they’d be amazed.
Grand Debut at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair
No invention really takes off unless people see it for themselves. For Morrison and Wharton, their big moment was the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. When folks saw sugar turning into fluffy clouds right in front of them, they rushed to try it.
I’ve read reports from the fair. Their booth sold a huge 68,655 boxes of “Fairy Floss” (that’s what it was called first) during the fair. It cost 25 cents, which was a lot—half the price of getting into the fair itself! Still, people lined up anyway.
People were amazed by both the taste and the spectacle. Most candy back then was hard stuff you had to bite. This new treat melted in your mouth and left your hands sticky and sweet. It quickly became super popular.
The “Other” Dentist Connection: Josef Lascaux and “Fairy Floss” (1921)
Addressing a Common Misconception
Just when you think history’s settled, a twist comes up. Years after Morrison and Wharton, some folks talk about Josef Lascaux, a dentist from New Orleans, as the real inventor. It gets confusing!
Here’s what happened. Lascaux did build a machine in 1921—about twenty years after the original—and called his candy “Fairy Floss” too. He wasn’t the first, though. He just made up his own version and wanted a piece of the action.
Many people mix up the inventors since both Morrison and Lascaux were dentists who liked gadgets and candy. I’ve even seen some trivia say it was only Lascaux, but the old records show that Morrison and Wharton beat him to it.
Differentiating the Two Inventions
So what’s the real difference? It’s all about when it happened, the details, and who made everyone love spun sugar. Morrison and Wharton’s machine came first in 1904 and made cotton candy a huge hit. Lascaux’s idea popped up much later.
Both used the name “Fairy Floss,” which made things muddled. In my research, this kind of thing actually happens a lot—two people thinking up the same tasty idea at different times.
So, another dentist joined in later, but the original goes to Morrison and Wharton. Lascaux just added another fun twist.
From “Fairy Floss” to “Cotton Candy”: The Name Evolution
When and Why the Name Changed
Right after the World’s Fair, “Fairy Floss” was the normal name. But by the late 1920s and early 1930s, the name “Cotton Candy” started being used in America. Why? Probably because it sounds softer and reminds people of childhood. Plus, it really does look like cotton!
If you go to England or Australia, though, you’ll see “candy floss” or “fairy floss” instead. It’s kind of like how some people say “cookie” while others say “biscuit.”
Most name changes in snacks happen because companies think a new name will sell more. “Cotton Candy” worked because it sounded fun. The treat itself stayed the same—just the name got a makeover.
Continuous Innovation
Since those first fairs, cotton candy machines have gotten better and faster. New machines can make more, run safer, and are used everywhere from big carnivals to people’s homes. Companies like Gold Medal Products, started in the 1930s, helped make cotton candy machines easier for everyone to get.
I’ve watched both old and modern videos—the process is pretty much the same as what Morrison and Wharton did: heat the sugar, spin it, and scoop up the whispy strings. Simple and fun, and still a hit.
People today, kids and grown-ups too, still love to watch sugar turn into clouds. Even after all this time, it feels like magic.
Why This Dentist-Inventor Story is So Intriguing
The Irony Factor
Here’s the bit people love: A dentist, a protector of teeth, helped invent a machine for selling straight-up sugar! It’s the world’s best punchline. I’ve joked about this with dentists and sweet-tooth fans, and it’s always a hit.
Some dentists even tell this story when talking to people about sugar and teeth. Kind of funny how someone can do two things that don’t really match. No wonder people want to know more.
Of course, Morrison didn’t mean to go against his own job. He just did a lot—dentist, lawyer, inventor, and he had a sweet tooth too. People are just full of surprises.
If you want to see where dentists work their magic today, you might peek inside a digital dental lab or one that works on dental ceramics—but don’t ask about cotton candy machines!
Historical Curiosity
I think people like this story because it messes with what we expect. It’s just so crazy that a treat made of sugar came from someone who tells you not to eat too much sugar. The mix-up is kind of perfect.
And it shows what happens when different people work together—a dentist who liked machines and a candy guy who knew what kids wanted. When you mix odd combos and a little luck, you sometimes get something everyone loves.
It’s stories like these—full of surprises and oddball connections—that keep me digging into the history of food, especially treats we still eat today.
Conclusion: The Unmistakable Sweet Legacy
So in the end: Was the cotton candy machine invented by a dentist? Yes—at least partly. Dentist William Morrison (who was also a lawyer) and candy man John C. Wharton designed the first electric spun sugar machine, got the patent, wowed crowds at the St. Louis World’s Fair, and kicked off a treat we still eat today.
Other dentists, like Josef Lascaux, added their own ideas later, but the first machine was all Morrison and Wharton. It was a real team effort, with both invention know-how and a love for all things sweet.
I like telling this story because it shows how odd and funny history can be. Whether you’re at a fair, a party, or just sneaking a bite from your kid’s stash, remember: every favorite treat comes from someone creative (sometimes even your dentist!), a good idea, and a story wilder than you might think.
If you want to learn more about what a modern dentist can do—or just want another interesting story—there’s lots out there. Otherwise, the next time you see a swirl of cotton candy, you’ll have a sweet story to share.
Thanks for letting me share this extra-sugary story. If you want to win at trivia night, now you know: sometimes the best treat stories come with a side of surprise!
