July 31, 1790. On this date, just 14 years after the United States was born as a nation, the U.S. issued its first patent. It went to Samuel Hopkins, an inventor who resided Pittsford, Vermont, and later of Pittsford, New York. Hopkins discovered of a new method of producing potash and pearlash. The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh explains:
Potash was the designation of a crude form of potassium carbonate derived as residue from the repeated boiling of wood ashes in a cauldron (or in 18th century parlance, a pot—hence, the name “potash”). Potash or the more refined pearlash may rightly be thought America’s first industrial chemical because this substance was an essential ingredient in the making of soap, glass and gun-powder.
First U.S. patent, issued July 31, 1790 to Samuel Hopkins. Image via Wikimedia Commons.Linton Park (American painter, 1826-1906) painted Flax Scutching Bee in 1885. It depicts a party of colonial Pennsylvanians, who will use ashes from the fire (far left of painting) to bleach fabric. The first U.S. patent was for a new method to make potash, or pearlash, which is derived similarly, as residue from the repeated boiling of wood ashes in a cauldron.Potash could be called America’s first industrial chemical. It’s used in making soap, glass, gunpowder and other substances. Image via Wikimedia Commons
Bottom line: The first U.S. patent was authorized in New York City, then the capital of the new country, on July 31, 1790. It went to Samuel Hopkins, an inventor who discovered of a new method of producing potash and pearlash, which could be considered as some of the first industrial chemicals.
Elizabeth Howell is an award-winning Canadian journalist who can't stop talking about space and science. As a teenager, she saw the movie Apollo 13 and wanted to be an astronaut. That hasn't happened - yet - but at least she gets to write about them. Elizabeth's favourite career moments so far include attending three shuttle launches, and legitimately writing the word "snot" into a Mars Curiosity story. Besides EarthSky, you can read Elizabeth's work in SPACE.com, Universe Today, SEN.com, All About Space and other fun places. Elizabeth's space obsession extends to her hobbies; she's a big fan of Battlestar: Galactica and has met all five TV Star Trek captains. She even visited Captain Kirk's future birthplace in small-town Iowa.
Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.
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