The Hoover brand vacuum cleaner was not invented by a single individual, but rather by a group of inventors and entrepreneurs. The company was founded by William Henry Hoover, who was the marketing and sales pioneer behind the vacuum cleaner's success.
The first Hoover vacuum cleaner was invented by James Murray Spangler in 1907. Spangler was a janitor who suffered from asthma, and he developed a basic suction-sweeper using a pillowcase, a broom handle, a soapbox, and an electric fan motor. This early prototype had a rotating brush and used suction to pick up dirt and dust.
Recognizing the potential of Spangler's invention, William Hoover purchased the patent rights from Spangler in 1908. Hoover was the owner of a leather goods manufacturing business at the time and saw the opportunity to expand into the vacuum cleaner market. The Hoover Company was then established, and they further improved and popularized the vacuum cleaner, leading to the Hoover brand becoming synonymous with vacuum cleaners in many parts of the world.
It's worth noting that while Spangler's invention was the basis for the Hoover brand's early success, the vacuum cleaner's evolution and design have been refined and improved by numerous engineers and inventors over the years.