Here's a breakdown:
* Ancient Roots: The earliest forms of solar collectors can be traced back to ancient civilizations. The Romans used glass windows to capture sunlight for warmth, and the Chinese used mirrors to focus sunlight for cooking.
* 18th Century: In the late 1700s, Horace de Saussure, a Swiss scientist, developed a "solar box" which was a simple device to capture solar energy and measure its effects.
* 19th Century: Augustin Mouchot created a parabolic solar collector in the 1860s, which focused sunlight to drive a steam engine. He also developed a solar-powered water heater.
* 20th Century: Frank Shuman designed and built a solar-powered irrigation system in Egypt in the early 1900s.
* Modern Era: The development of modern solar collectors, with their advanced materials and designs, is the result of continuous advancements by many scientists and engineers over the last century.
Therefore, attributing the invention of the solar collector to a single person is inaccurate. It's more accurate to see it as a culmination of ideas and innovations throughout history.
