The invention of the donut, specifically the classic ring-shaped donut with a hole in the middle, is widely attributed to Hanson Gregory, an American ship captain from Maine. Gregory claimed to have invented the donut hole in 1847 when he was 16 years old. Frustrated with the raw doughy centers of fried dough cakes, he decided to cut out the center, which allowed the donut to cook evenly. This innovation led to the familiar donut shape recognized today and improved the cooking process. Although variations of fried dough date back centuries to ancient civilizations and early European settlers, Gregory's invention is credited as the origin of the modern donut's shape and form.