The first practical waterproof raincoat, made from rubberised fabric to keep the wearer dry, was invented by which chemist and inventor?

Introduction / Context:
Waterproof raincoats are everyday items of clothing that protect people from rain and wet weather. The idea of coating fabric with a waterproof substance was a significant innovation in the nineteenth century and led to the classic rubberised raincoat. This question asks you to identify the chemist and inventor who created one of the first practical waterproof raincoats, a fact that often appears in general knowledge lists of everyday inventions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The invention is a waterproof raincoat made from rubberised fabric.
• The inventor was trained in chemistry and worked with rubber or related materials.
• The options include figures known from microscopy, papermaking and anatomy.
• Only one of these names is linked to rubberised raincoats.

Concept / Approach:
Charles Macintosh, a Scottish chemist, developed a process for bonding rubber between layers of cloth to produce a waterproof material. Raincoats made from this material became known as Macintoshes or Macs. Robert Hooke is famous for his work with microscopes and the law of elasticity, Cai Lun is credited with inventing paper in ancient China and William Harvey discovered the circulation of blood. None of these achievements involve rubberised raincoats, so Charles Macintosh is the correct answer for this question.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the question refers to waterproof raincoats and rubberised fabric.Step 2: Recall that the name Macintosh is commonly associated with early raincoats, derived from the inventor surname.Step 3: Look at the options and find Charles Macintosh as option C.Step 4: Recognise that Robert Hooke worked mainly in natural philosophy and used microscopes, not in clothing manufacture.Step 5: Recognise that Cai Lun contributions concern papermaking and that William Harvey work concerns blood circulation.Step 6: Select Charles Macintosh as the inventor of the waterproof raincoat.

Verification / Alternative check:
Histories of clothing and industrial chemistry frequently mention Charles Macintosh as a pioneer of waterproof garments. The term Mackintosh or Mac is still used in British English to refer to a raincoat. In contrast, Hooke, Cai Lun and Harvey are remembered for contributions to science and technology in entirely different domains. This clear difference makes Macintosh the only appropriate choice in a multiple choice question about waterproof raincoats.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Robert Hooke made fundamental observations with microscopes and contributed to physics and biology but did not produce waterproof garments. Cai Lun is credited with creating an early form of paper in China, which is unrelated to rubberised clothing. William Harvey described how blood circulates through the body, an anatomical discovery. None of these achievements describe the invention of the waterproof raincoat, so options A, B and D are incorrect.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students may confuse the Macintosh raincoat with other modern brands or with computer products and forget that it was originally the surname of the chemist who created rubberised fabric. Others may guess based on the most familiar scientific name. To avoid such mistakes, it helps to remember the association Macintosh raincoat equals Charles Macintosh, chemist, and to separate this clearly from the unrelated names in the options.

Final Answer:
The waterproof raincoat was invented by Charles Macintosh.