Sholes, Christopher Latham, << shohlz, KRIHS tuh fuhr LAY thuhm >> (1819-1890), an American inventor and journalist, helped develop the first practical typewriter. Sholes, Carlos Glidden, and Samuel W. Soule designed the typewriter in 1867 and patented it in 1868. Glidden and Soule sold their interests to Sholes and his new partner, James Densmore. They improved the typewriter and began to manufacture it in 1870. But they were unable to sell the machine. In 1873, Sholes and Densmore gave E. Remington and Sons a contract to make it. Sholes later sold most of his interest in the typewriter. Sholes was born on Feb. 14, 1819, near Danville, Pennsylvania. He was a Wisconsin newspaper editor and served in the Wisconsin state Legislature. He died on Feb. 17, 1890. See also Typewriter (History) .