August 22: Liquid Soap patented

William Shepphard first patented liquid soap on August 22, 1865.

In 1980, the Minnetonka Corporation introduced the first modern liquid soap called SOFT SOAP brand liquid soap. Minnetonka cornered the liquid soap market by buying up the entire supply of the plastic pumps needed for the liquid soap dispensers.

In 1987, the Colgate Company acquired the liquid soap business from Minnetonka.

http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blsoap.htm