Imagine a world without fire. Now, imagine a world without the match. It was only in the 19th century that English chemist and pharmacist John Walker accidentally came upon the idea of coating the end of a wooden stick with antimony sulfide, potassium chlorate, gum, and starch. Once the chemicals dried, he found he could start a fire just by striking the stick anywhere. He called his invention "Congreves" after the Congreve's rocket. On April 7,1827, Walker first sold his friction matches. Walker never patented the idea and someone else later marketed them as "lucifers."
source: answers.com
Is there any invention you could live without? Use your space to write them here and practice your English!!!
Márcio Barbosa