Charles Macintosh was a Scottish chemist and inventor, best known for his development of waterproof fabric in the early 19th century. Born in 1766, he created a method to bond layers of cloth using rubber, which led to the invention of the Macintosh coat, a popular raincoat that provided protection from the elements. His innovative work laid the foundation for modern waterproof materials and significantly influenced the textile industry. Macintosh's contributions to chemistry and fabric technology have had a lasting impact, making him a notable figure in the history of fashion and material science.