Who invented gumboots and when?

Answer 1

The Wellington boot, also known as rubber-boots, wellies, topboots, gumboots, barnboots, muckboots or rainboots are a type of boot based upon leather Hessian boots.

It was worn and popularised by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. The "Wellington" boot then became a fashionable style emulated by the British aristocracy in the early 19th century.

Wellington boots are waterproof and are most often made from Rubber or PolyVinyl Chloride (PVC) a halogenated polymer. They are usually worn when walking on wet or muddy ground, or to protect the wearer from heavy showers. They are generally just below knee-high.