text: who invented roller skates? thanks. first good, true answer will get 10 points. well.. supposedly....a belgian inventor named joseph merlin introduced the first patented roller skate in 1760. what an introduction! he wore his new skates to a party in london, where he crashed into a very expensive mirror. he wasn't very interested in skating after this experience. however, other inventors produced some roller skate models, most with in-line wheels to imitate and ice skating blade.