Johan (or Johann) Vaaler (March 15, 1866 - ????) was a Norwegian inventor who invented the paperclip in 1899[1].
Vaaler was born in Aurskog in Norway. Some histories say Vaaler was a patent clerk; others note that Norway had no patents at the time and suggest that his patents had to be obtained in Germany (in 1899) and the United States (in 1901) for that reason.
The paperclip became a symbol of Norwegian resistance to Nazi occupation in World War II after badges bearing the face of the exiled King Haakon VII were banned.
A giant paperclip was erected in Oslo in honour of Vaaler.
