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The Patent Commission of the U.S. was created in 1790. Its first three members were Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of War Henry Knox, and Attorney General Edmund Randolph.
On July 31, 1790 inventor Samuel Hopkins of Pittsford, Vermont became the first person to be issued a patent in the United States. His patented invention was an improvement in the "making of Pot Ash by a new apparatus & process.". The earliest patent law required that a working model of each invention be produced in miniature.
The Patent Law was revised for the first time in 1793. It adopted a simple registration system where a patent would be granted for a $30 fee. The Patent Board was replaced by a clerk in the Department of State. James MadisonJames Madison Order 4th President Term of Office March 4, 1809 March 3, 1817 Followed Thomas Jefferson Succeeded by James Monroe Date of Birth March 16, 1751 Place of Birth Port Conway, Virginia Date of Death June 28, 1836 Place of Death Montpelier, Virgi, Secretary of State, created a separate Patent Office within the State Department and he appointed Dr. William ThorntonWilliam Thornton ( May 20, 1759 28 March, 1828) was the original architect of the United States Capitol. Born in the West Indies, Thornton received medical training in Edinburgh, Scotland. He emigrated to the United States of America in 1787. Thornton's d as its first superintendent in May 1802Events March 16 West Point is established. March 25/ 27 Treaty of Amiens between France and United Kingdom ends the War of the Second Coalition. March 28 H. Olbers discovers the asteroid Pallas. May 19 Napoleon Bonaparte establishes the French legion d'ho.
The Patent Office was the only major government building to survive the British invasion of Washington, D.C. during the War of 1812. This is credited to a musician who had offices in the Patent Office building and persuaded British officers that they would be destroying the shared intellectual record of mankind if the patents were burned.
The disastrous fire occurred on December 15December 15 is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 16 days remaining. Events 687 St. Sergius I becomes Pope 1702 Forty-seven ronin, formerly in the service of Asano Naganori, assault the household of Kira Y, 1836, when the patents were in temporary storage while a new (more fireproof) facility was being built. A fire station was next to the temporary storage, but the hoses and pumps were frozen, and firemen were unable to prevent the loss.