When were sunglasses invented, and by whom?

looney_tunes

'The Chinese around 1000 years ago' or 'Sam Foster in 1929' depending on how you define sunglasses. "Early sunglasses served a special purpose and it wasn't to block the rays of the sun. For centuries, Chinese judges had routinely worn smoke-colored quartz lenses to conceal their eye expressions in court. It wasn't until the 20th century that modern-type sunglasses came to be. In 1929, Sam Foster, founder of the Foster Grant company sold the first pair of Foster Grant sunglasses on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, NJ." http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/sunglasses.htm "Inexpensive mass-produced sunglasses were introduced to America by Sam Foster in 1929. Foster found a ready market on the beaches of Atlantic City, New Jersey, where he began selling sunglasses under the name Foster Grant from a Woolworth on the Boardwalk. ... Polarized sunglasses first became available in 1936, when Edwin H. Land began experimenting with making lenses with his patented Polaroid filter." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunglasses Mar 30 10, 4:45 AM