When was plastic made first?

Even as early as the mid-1800’s, chemists were aware of plastics. In 1909, Leo Baekland, a Belgian-American chemist discovered phenol-formaldehyde. It was a kind of plastic called thermosetting plastic. It was not easily soluble, could be moulded into any shape and was not a conductor of electricity. It was called Bakelite and led to the development of a whole world of new plastics.