The first widely recognized mechanical street sweeper was invented and patented by C. S. Bishop in 1849, in the United States.

Quick Scoop: Who invented the street sweeper?

  • C. S. Bishop is credited with the first patented mechanical street sweeping machine, issued on September 4, 1849 (U.S. Patent 6,699). This horse‑drawn device used a rotating brush and conveyor belts to collect debris into a container or “hopper.”
  • In the 1840s, Joseph Whitworth in Manchester, England, also developed early street sweepers pulled by horses or powered by steam, so some European histories name him as an early pioneer too.
  • In 1896, Charles B. Brooks patented one of the first self‑propelled street sweeper trucks in the U.S., improving on Bishop’s tow‑behind design by mounting revolving brushes (and interchangeable scrapers for snow) directly to a motorized vehicle.

So, if you’re answering “who invented the street sweeper?” in a modern context:

  • For the first mechanical street sweeper : C. S. Bishop (U.S., 1849).
  • For the first self‑propelled street sweeper truck : Charles B. Brooks (U.S., 1896).
  • For early horse/steam street sweepers in Europe : Joseph Whitworth in 1840s Manchester is often cited as an originator.

Today, many articles and company histories still point to Bishop’s 1849 patent as the key turning point where street cleaning shifted from purely manual broom work to a recognizable machine‑based system.

TL;DR: C. S. Bishop is most commonly credited with inventing the first patented mechanical street sweeper, while Charles B. Brooks later invented the self‑propelled street sweeper truck that looks more like what we see on city streets today.

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