Why was a lollipop invented?

George Smith of New Haven, Connecticut, created a lollipop in 1908 at the age of 16 and claimed to have invented the first lollipop after coming up with the idea while selling candy door-to-door in order to help pay his tuition. While making taffy, Smith accidentally grabbed a stick instead of the handle and discovered that it was the perfect way to hold and enjoy the candy. As children flocked to Smith’s house, he enlisted his family and friends to help make lollipops to meet the demand. Soon, he could not keep up with the demand and sold the rights to his invention to the Bradley Smith Company for $5,000. After buying out his partners, he used his profits to fund his education at Yale University and Harvard Law School.