Who invented the ballpoint pen?

Ladislo Biro, with help from his bother George (there appear to be several variations on the spelling of Lad's first name, however).

Hungarian brothers George and Laszlo Biro invented the ball point pen in 1938.

There are a few families in my predominently Eastern European neighborhood with that last name. One family spells it Bero, the others Biro. They are related to each other. I guess it all depends on which Irish clerk you got at Ellis Island.

By the way, Ladislo (In Polish, Wladisla; in Russian, Vladimir, and Vladislaw) is often changed to Walter. The real character Dracula had the Romanian version, Vladislau, usually shortened to Vlad. Somehow, Walter the Vampire is not going to make it on a marquee.

[This message was edited by Doriangreyed on 07-21-03 at 01:14 PM.]