We are so routinely greeted with news of technological triumphs that it's easy to take it for granted. Protecting the rights of inventors, and therefore encouraging them, was so important that patents were specifically provided for in the US Constitution, and today is the anniversary of the enabling legislation. It's also the anniversary of the patent on the safety pin, which should have been worth a fortune.
Progress can fool us in other ways. Today marks the death of the USS Thresher and all 129 aboard, apparently because this early nuclear-powered submarine was meticulously designed and tested in many ways, but the prosaic controls and piping for seawater ballast had not received the same attention, and they failed.
Joseph Pulitzer, the sensationalist publisher who just may have been trying to make amends for his career when he endowed the Columbia School of Journalism and established the Pulitzer Prizes, was born on this date. In his honor the quotes today are newspaper related.
1790 - The Patent Act of 1790 creates an agency in the Department of State to issue patents. Any two of three officers - the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Department of War, and the Attorney General - are authorized to issue patents for a period of 14 years. The Secretary of State was Thomas Jefferson, a significant inventor who chose not to apply for patents for his own work.
1849 - Walter Hunt of New York City was granted a patent on the safety pin. Specifically invented to pay a debt of $15, he sold his rights to the patent for $400.
1963 - The USS Thresher SSN-593, first of a new class of nuclear-powered submarines, lost ballast control and fell below her crush depth. Apparent cause was failure in sea-water piping that sprayed water on electrical controls, subsequent loss of electrical power. The non-nuclear systems had not been tested to the same standards as the reactor systems. All 129 sailors on board were killed.
Nothing Today, Nada. Zip. Can't find a thing anywhere. If you know better, let me know for next year!
1827
- Lewis Wallace, US soldier, lawyer, author. Competent officer
during Civil War rising to rank of Major General, sat on several important
courts martial after, minor political career. Attempted to organize private
assault on Maximilian in Mexico. Governor of New Mexico territory, ambassador
to Turkey. Wrote "Ben Hur - a Tale of the Christ." Died 15 February 1905.
This statue by Andrew O'Connor stands in "Statuary Hall" outside the
House Chambers in the US Capitol building.
1847 - Joseph Pulitzer, US publisher. Born in Hungary, sought adventure in army. Due to poor eyesight and frail health was rejected by Hungarian and other European armies, he joined the Union army which was recruiting in Hungary, served through the war. His papers, the World (New York) and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch changed journalism, featuring human interest, gossip, and scandal, various political crusades of Pulitzer's, and the first women's and sports sections. Endowed Columbia School of Journalism and the Pulitzer Prize. Died 29 October 1911.
1882 - Frances Perkins, US social reformer, Secretary of Labor under Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933 - 1945), first female member of the cabinet. Advocated social security, unemployment compensation, minimum wage and maximum hours, and child welfare legislation. Died 14 May 1965.
Americans are a broad-minded people. They'll accept the fact that a person
can be an alcoholic, a dope fiend, a wife beater, and even a newspaperman;
but if a man doesn't drive there's something wrong with him.
- Art Buchwald
Half of the American people never read a newspaper. Half never voted
for President. One hopes it is the same half.
- Gore Vidal
A newspaper is not just for reporting the news, it's to get people mad
enough to do something about it.
- Mark Twain
[Lee] De Forest has said in many newspapers and over his signature that
it would be possible to transmit the human voice across the Atlantic before
many years. Based on these absurd and deliberately misleading statements,
the misguided public ... has been persuaded to buy stock in his company.
- A US District Attorney
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