The modern version of cotton candy was invented in 1897 by dentist William J. Morrison and confectioner John C. Wharton in Nashville, Tennessee, who patented an electric “fairy floss” machine.

Quick Scoop

  • The fluffy treat we call cotton candy began as “fairy floss” , made by a special spinning machine.
  • The machine and the candy were created by Dr. William J. Morrison (a dentist) and John C. Wharton (a candy maker) in 1897.
  • They showcased their new invention to the public at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, where it became a massive hit.

Fun twist: The inventor was a dentist, which makes the story extra ironic given how sugary cotton candy is.

Over time, other inventors and showmen also experimented with spun sugar, but Morrison and Wharton’s machine is widely credited with making cotton candy cheap, consistent, and popular at fairs and carnivals.

TL;DR: When people ask “who invented cotton candy,” the standard answer is William J. Morrison (dentist) and John C. Wharton (confectioner), who created and patented the first successful cotton candy machine in 1897 and wowed crowds with it at the 1904 World’s Fair.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.