Who invented liquid soap and most importantly, why?

I typed in "who invented liquid soap" on Google, and this site was the very first one that came up (the one listed in my sources). It was titled, "Who invented liquid soap and why?" This is what it said:

"As far as I can tell, Liquid Soap was invented by Hendrik Willem Brouwer of Holland, working for Lever Brothers. He received patent number US4065398: Liquid soap composition. You can read more about this invention at this webpage.

http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US04065398__

As for why - I can only guess that Lever Brothers saw the potential to increase sales and profits due to the convenience of a soap that could easily be dispensed in public places like public restrooms, as a better alternative than providing a community bar of soap (do you really want to wash your hands with a bar of soap covered with some stranger's dirt and germs?), and as a more comfortable alternative to providing powdered soap (I have used it in public restrooms in the past...feels like you are washing your hands with Ajax or Comet. Uncomfortable).

In fact, since the invention of liquid soap, there have been a whole lot of patents for equipment that dispenses liquid soap, so the market is obviously there!"

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. And the reason, why. It is quicker to make than soap bars and contains less lye, so it is easier on the skin. It is a question from the movie "The Sure Thing"

One of the well-know soap factories most likely, perhaps Johnson and Johnson, because Baby wash has been around for a real long time. It actually makes the soap go a lot further, so it is cost efficient, and takes less time because it lathers quicker.

Actually the Arabs made liquid soap in the 7th century. Why was it invented? It happened.

it is an application of six sigma- using the waste for profit

(soap left-outs of soap industries followed liquid soap technique to gain profits)

i dont know who invented it. Why? Because you can store it easier, it won't break like a bar of soap, and it's overall more convienent than bar soap.

they invented it because no one person can possibly choose between soap OR water. they MUST be together. OR they might have invented it for washing dishes. i dont know.

http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/2001-08/99742... might be the answer, but liquid soap is easier to use than solid soap when washing your hands. Plus it's easier to lather....i dunno i guess it depends on your preference.

bar soaps irritate my skin and are just inconveniant

It's another ploy for us consumers to spend more money on things we don't need.