Who invented root beer?

The exact person who invented root beer is unknown, but the drink can be traced back to the early 19th century when Native American tribes in the northern parts of America used the sassafras root to make a tea that was believed to have medicinal properties. The tea was carbonated and sold as "root beer" in the 19th century by entrepreneurs such as Charles Elmer Hires. Hires' root beer recipe used a blend of herbs, spices, and extracts that included sassafras, vanilla, and aniseed. His root beer became a successful soft drink and it paved the way for other root beer brands to emerge.