László Bíró, a journalist from Hungary, changed the way people write by inventing the ballpoint pen. Before his invention, most people used fountain pens. These pens had many problems—they smudged, leaked, and needed to be refilled often. As a journalist, Bíró was frustrated with these issues. He needed a pen that was easier to use and did not make a mess. This problem led him to create something new.
One day, Bíró noticed that the ink used in newspapers dried quickly and did not smudge. He thought it would be perfect for writing, but the problem was that this thick ink would not flow smoothly in a fountain pen. He needed a way to make the ink move onto the paper without leaking. That is when he had the idea of using a small ball in the pen’s tip. This tiny ball could roll and transfer the ink evenly onto the paper. He worked on this idea with his brother, György Bíró, who was a chemist. Together, they developed the first version of the ballpoint pen and patented it in 1938 in Hungary.
However, Europe was becoming dangerous because of World War II, so Bíró fled to Argentina. There, he continued to improve his invention. In 1943, he got a new patent for his improved ballpoint pen. The new pen had several advantages over fountain pens. It dried quickly, did not leak, and was more reliable. This caught the attention of the British Royal Air Force. They needed a pen that worked well in high altitudes because fountain pens leaked due to air pressure changes. They started using Bíró’s pen, which helped make it more popular.
After the war, several companies wanted to produce and sell the ballpoint pen. One of the most successful was a French businessman, Marcel Bich. He improved the design, made the pens affordable, and started selling them under the brand “Bic.” The Bic ballpoint pen became a huge success and is still one of the most popular pens in the world today.
Bíró’s invention changed how people write. It made writing easier, cleaner, and more convenient. In Argentina, where he lived for many years, ballpoint pens are still called “biromes” in his honor. His simple idea of a rolling ball in a pen tip became one of the most important writing tools in history.
