John Ruggles (October 8, 1789 – June 20, 1874) was an American politician from the U.S. state of Maine. He served in several important state legislative and judicial positions before serving in the U.S. Senate.
Ruggles was born in Westborough, Massachusetts. He attended public school there and in 1813 graduated from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Ruggles studied law, and after being admitted to the bar in 1815 he began practicing in Skowhegan, Maine. Two years later, Ruggles moved to Thomaston. In 1823, Ruggles was elected to the Maine House of Representatives. He served in the House until 1831, and was speaker (1825–1829 and again in 1831). He resigned from the state house to replace Samuel E. Smith (who had been elected governor) as a justice of the supreme judicial court of Maine, serving until 1834.
He also made the first US patent. The patent was for new traction wheels for trains for going uphill with heavy loads.[1]
U.S. Senate careeredit
The state legislature elected Ruggles as a Democratic-Republican (Jacksonian) to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Peleg Sprague. He was later elected for the full term beginning March 4, 1835, and in total served from January 20, 1835, to March 3, 1841. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1840.
During his tenure in Congress, Ruggles had served as chairman of the Committee on Patents and Patent Office (25th Congress), and in 1836 framed the bill for the reorganization of the United States Patent Office. He was known for his interest in inventions and patents, and because of his legislative accomplishments in this area he has become known as the "Father of the U.S. Patent Office". Ruggles also was an inventor and the patent-holder of U.S. Patent 1, issued July 13, 1836. His invention was a type of train wheel designed to reduce the adverse effects of the weather on the track. This was not the first patent ever from the USPTO; the previous patents were destroyed by fire and afterwards called the X-Patents, and new patents afterwards were numbered from 1 again. Ruggles received the first patent granted under the new system; Samuel Hopkins received the first X-Patent.
Retirement and deathedit
In retirement, Ruggles resumed the practice of law in Thomaston. There he made several more inventions and was well known as a political writer and orator. Ruggles was wealthy; he and his wife Margaret George Ruggles had children and lived in the largest house on the town's Main Street. He died in 1874 a few months before reaching age 85. He is interred in the Elm Grove Cemetery.
john, ruggles, british, olympic, sailor, sailor, october, 1789, june, 1874, american, politician, from, state, maine, served, several, important, state, legislative, judicial, positions, before, serving, senate, united, states, senatorfrom, mainein, office, ja. For the British Olympic sailor see John Ruggles sailor John Ruggles October 8 1789 June 20 1874 was an American politician from the U S state of Maine He served in several important state legislative and judicial positions before serving in the U S Senate John RugglesUnited States Senatorfrom MaineIn office January 20 1835 March 3 1841Preceded byPeleg SpragueSucceeded byGeorge EvansPersonal detailsBornOctober 8 1789Westborough MassachusettsDiedJune 20 1874 1874 06 20 aged 84 Thomaston MainePolitical partyDemocraticSpouseMargaret George RugglesAlma materBrown University Contents 1 Early life and career 2 U S Senate career 3 Retirement and death 4 See also 5 References 6 SourcesEarly life and career editRuggles was born in Westborough Massachusetts He attended public school there and in 1813 graduated from Brown University in Providence Rhode Island Ruggles studied law and after being admitted to the bar in 1815 he began practicing in Skowhegan Maine Two years later Ruggles moved to Thomaston In 1823 Ruggles was elected to the Maine House of Representatives He served in the House until 1831 and was speaker 1825 1829 and again in 1831 He resigned from the state house to replace Samuel E Smith who had been elected governor as a justice of the supreme judicial court of Maine serving until 1834 He also made the first US patent The patent was for new traction wheels for trains for going uphill with heavy loads 1 U S Senate career editThe state legislature elected Ruggles as a Democratic Republican Jacksonian to the U S Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Peleg Sprague He was later elected for the full term beginning March 4 1835 and in total served from January 20 1835 to March 3 1841 He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1840 During his tenure in Congress Ruggles had served as chairman of the Committee on Patents and Patent Office 25th Congress and in 1836 framed the bill for the reorganization of the United States Patent Office He was known for his interest in inventions and patents and because of his legislative accomplishments in this area he has become known as the Father of the U S Patent Office Ruggles also was an inventor and the patent holder of U S Patent 1 issued July 13 1836 His invention was a type of train wheel designed to reduce the adverse effects of the weather on the track This was not the first patent ever from the USPTO the previous patents were destroyed by fire and afterwards called the X Patents and new patents afterwards were numbered from 1 again Ruggles received the first patent granted under the new system Samuel Hopkins received the first X Patent Retirement and death editIn retirement Ruggles resumed the practice of law in Thomaston There he made several more inventions and was well known as a political writer and orator Ruggles was wealthy he and his wife Margaret George Ruggles had children and lived in the largest house on the town s Main Street He died in 1874 a few months before reaching age 85 He is interred in the Elm Grove Cemetery See also editPatent Office 1836 fire Patent Office 1877 fireReferences edit 1 United States Patent 0000001 issued July 13 1836 Sources edit nbsp Wikisource has original works by or about John Ruggles nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Ruggles Ruggles John The Political Graveyard http politicalgraveyard com bio ruggles html R9M0JBIAQUnited States Congress John Ruggles id R000502 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Reggles John Letter to the U S Patent Office https web archive org web 20050212172531 http www mindfully org Industry Patent 1 13jul1836 htm Senator John Ruggles Thomaston Historical Society https web archive org web 20041205124819 http www thomastonhistoricalsociety com JRuggles htmU S SenatePreceded byPeleg Sprague U S senator Class 2 from Maine1835 1841 Served alongside Ether Shepley Judah Dana Reuel Williams Succeeded byGeorge EvansHonorary titlesPreceded byWilson Lumpkin Oldest living U S senatorDecember 28 1870 June 20 1874 Succeeded byDaniel Sturgeon Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Ruggles amp oldid 1191020042, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
