Architect of the Capital William Thornton Rare ALS on Patent as 1st Superintendent of the U.S. Patent Office.

1p, [8" x 10.125"], ALS, William Thornton to Elisha Hale. Dated December 21, 1821. Signed “William Thornton”, who served as Superintendent of the U.S. Patent Office between 1802-1828. Hale had inquired about whether he could include a caveat on a patent then under application submitted by fellow inventor Horace Howard (1787-1870). In this reply, Thornton wrote in part: "I do not think that Howard's Invention approaches in principle so near to yours, as your Invention approaches in principle to some others that have preceded you. - It would therefore be well to consider this subject maturely, before you proceed in disputing it…” In fine condition, expertly repaired. See photos for details.

Dr. William Thornton (1759-1828) was an amateur architect who is honored as the "First Architect of the Capitol" because his design for the Capitol was accepted by President George Washington in 1793. Without any formal study of architecture, Thornton, in 1789 won a building design competition promoted by the Library Company of Philadelphia. He received $500 and a building lot in the city of Washington for his composition.

Thornton was born on May 20, 1759, in the British West Indies, and received a medical degree from the University of Aberdeen. He became an American citizen in 1787, and moved to Washington in 1794, when President Washington appointed him commissioner of the Federal City. In 1802 President Jefferson appointed him head of the Patent Office, an office he held until his death in 1828.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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