The flute, as a musical instrument, dates back tens of thousands of years with the oldest flutes made from bones found in Germany from about 43,000 to 35,000 years ago. The modern flute, however, was significantly developed and improved by Theobald Boehm, a German inventor, musician, and flute maker in the 19th century. Boehm created the key mechanism and fingering system for the flute, known as the Boehm system, which is the basis for the modern Western concert flute. He patented these improvements around 1847 and is widely credited with inventing the modern flute as it is known today.
In historical and biblical tradition, Jubal is sometimes regarded as the inventor of the flute as mentioned in the Bible, and early flutes have also been found from ancient eras, including Bronze and Iron Ages. Early flutes were simple instruments made from bones or wood and were used in various cultures across the world.
So, the flute as an instrument has ancient origins, but the modern form and key system were invented by Theobald Boehm in the 19th century.
