Ladislao "Laszlo" Josef Biro (Bíró László József, September 19, 1899 - November 24, 1985) is considered the inventor of the modern ballpoint pen. September 19 is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years). ... 1899 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... November 24 is the 328th day (329th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1985 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A ballpoint pen A ballpoint pen, in many countries also eponymously called a biro, is a writing instrument, more specifically a pen, similar to a pencil in size and shape. ...

Biro was born in Budapest in 1899. In 1938, while working as a journalist, he noticed that the ink used in newspaper printing dried quickly, leaving the paper dry and smudge-free. He tried using the same ink in a fountain pen but found that it would not flow into the nib, as it was too viscous. Working with his brother Georg, a chemist, he developed a new tip consisting of a ball that was free to turn in a socket, and as it turned it would pick up ink from a cartridge and then roll to deposit it on the paper. Biro patented the invention in Paris in 1938, after fleeing anti-Jewish laws in Hungary. Chemistry (in Greek: χημεία) is the science of matter and its interactions with energy and itself (see physics, biology). ... 1938 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ...

In 1943 the brothers moved to Argentina and on June 10 filed another patent, and formed Biro Pens of Argentina (in fact, in Argentina the ball pen is known as birome). This new design was licensed by the British, who produced ballpoint pens for Royal Air Force aircrew, who found they worked much better than fountain pens at high altitude. 1943 is a common year starting on Friday. ... June 10 is the 161st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (162nd in leap years), with 204 days remaining. ... The Royal Air Force (often abbreviated to RAF) is the air force branch of the UK Armed Forces. ...

Ballpoint pens are still widely referred to as a biro in many countries, notably several European countries, Australia and New Zealand. Argentina's Inventors Day is celebrated on Biro's birthday, September 19. September 19 is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years). ...

External links

• Brief biography of Biro (http://www.budpocketguide.com/TouristInfo/famous/Famous_Hungarians17.asp) by Budapest Pocket Guide