The vacuum cleaner was invented by Hubert Cecil Booth, a British engineer and inventor, in 1901. He developed the first powered vacuum cleaner, which was a large, horse-drawn, and petrol-powered device. It was used for cleaning the streets, theatres, and other public spaces.
However, the vacuum cleaner, as we know it today, with the portable electric version for household use, was invented by James Murray Spangler, an American janitor and inventor. In 1908, Spangler constructed a basic, portable vacuum cleaner using an electric fan, a soapbox, a pillowcase (as a filter), and a broomstick. He received a patent for his design on June 2, 1908.
Later on, William Hoover, a prominent entrepreneur, saw the potential in Spangler's invention and bought the patent from him. Hoover then founded the Hoover Company and went on to improve and popularize the vacuum cleaner, leading to its widespread adoption in households.
So, while Booth invented the concept of a vacuum cleaner, it was Spangler who created the first electric, portable vacuum cleaner, and his invention marked the beginning of the modern vacuum cleaner industry.