who invented the stapler?

Answer 1

John Fredrick Staple..er no look here:

http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/feb98/884874568.Sh.r.html

Answer 2

Levi Staple, who used it as a quick way to compete with Strauss in putting trousers together. Unfortunately, a frisky little dog tugged at his pants leg at the fashion show, and he came close to winning a prize for the prettiest bloomers by a haberdasher. He backed out of the competition while kicking the dog and the subsequent animal-cruelty charge brought an abrupt end to his clothing business. Little is heard of him in historical annals today, probably because of the dog-kicking episode. So everybody remembers Strauss and his rivets instead.

Answer 3

Depends exactly what you mean by a stapler, but probably George W. McGill in the 1860s.