Put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator. – Colossians 3:10
Newspaper publisher, inventor, and former State Senator, Christopher Latham Sholes, was issued a patent for the typewriter on this day in 1868, along with Samuel Soulé and Carlos Glidden. This former Wisconsin State Senator was known for his inventions. In 1864, he and his friend, Soulé, were issued a patent for a page-numbering machine. Glidden, also a mechanical inventor, later suggested to Sholes that he revise his current page-numbering machine and expand it into a letter-printing machine, referring him to the published account of an existing writing machine created by Londoner, John Pratt. Sholes was enthusiastic about the idea and made the project a reality. Successive improvements brought him two other patents. Due to difficulty raising funds for his typewriter, Sholes eventually sold his patent rights for $12,000 to the Remington Arms Company in 1873. He continued making contributions to improving the typewriter throughout the rest of his life.
As the Lord leads, pray with us…
- For Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Kathi Vidal.
- For U.S. officials who review and issue patents and trademarks to innovative and creative Americans.
