Ohl: Why don’t they invent...
Wed, 12/10/2025 - 11:17am
By:
David Ohl
In 1790 Samuel Hopkins developed a process for making potash which was used to produce soap and fertilizer. President George Washington signed the paperwork making it the first patent issued in America. Since then, over 12 million patents have been issued and now average more than 300,000 annually. China leads in both patent applications and grants. The U.S. is second.
Want to read the full article? Full access to lakecitygraphic.com is only $52 per year. Print subscriptions are $58 for Wabasha and Goodhue county residents and $80 anywhere else in the continental U.S. To begin, click here. Already a subscriber? Log in or request an account below.