When was the pedal harp invented?

The pedal harp, as we know it today, was developed in the late 18th century, with significant contributions made by the French harp maker Sébastien Érard in the 1790s. Érard's innovations included the double-action mechanism, allowing for greater versatility in playing. This design became the standard for modern concert harps, marking the transition from earlier, simpler harps to the more complex pedal harps used in orchestras today.