Legend has it that in 1840, the British gentleman Rowland Hill was walking on the streets of London and saw a messenger handing a letter to a girl and then asking her for postage. The girl looked at it and said, "I don't have any money. Please return the letter." The messenger quarreled with the girl. After seeing it, Roland Hill took her to pay. The girl explained: "My family is very poor and we have no money to pay for postage. My brother and I agreed that if he is in good health, he will put a circle on the letter to me. I will not accept the letter when I see this mark." Roland then said It is suggested to the government that a stamp be issued, and the sender of the letter should pay for the stamp and affix the stamp to the envelope as a proof that the postage has been paid. The British government adopted his suggestion and issued the world's first postage stamp in May 1840. Later Rowland Hill was elected Royal Mail Minister.