Thomas Ewbank
Encyclopedia
Thomas Ewbank was an English writer on practical mechanics, who was United States Commissioner of Patents from 1849 to 1852.
, Durham, on 11 March 1792. When thirteen years of age he began work as a plumber and brassfounder. In 1812 he went to London, where he was employed in making cases for preserved meats. His spare hours were given to reading. In 1819 he emigrated to America
, and next year began business in New York
as a manufacturer of lead, tin, and copper tubing. In 1836 he was able to retire from business and devote himself to studies and writings on mechanics. In 1845–6 he travelled in Brazil
, and on his return published an account of his travels as Life in Brazil.
He was appointed United States Commissioner of Patents by President Taylor
in 1849. He was attacked for the manner in which he fulfilled the duties of his office, which he held till 1852. Ewbank was one of the founders and president of the American Ethnological Society
. He died at New York on 16 September 1870.
Ewbank also wrote a number of scattered papers on scientific subjects. Many of them appeared in the Transactions of the Franklin Institute. His ‘Experiments on Marine Propulsion, or the Virtue of Form in Propelling Blades,’ attracted some attention in Europe.
Life
Ewbank was born at Barnard CastleBarnard Castle
Barnard Castle is an historical town in Teesdale, County Durham, England. It is named after the castle around which it grew up. It sits on the north side of the River Tees, opposite Startforth, south southwest of Newcastle upon Tyne, south southwest of Sunderland, west of Middlesbrough and ...
, Durham, on 11 March 1792. When thirteen years of age he began work as a plumber and brassfounder. In 1812 he went to London, where he was employed in making cases for preserved meats. His spare hours were given to reading. In 1819 he emigrated to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and next year began business in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
as a manufacturer of lead, tin, and copper tubing. In 1836 he was able to retire from business and devote himself to studies and writings on mechanics. In 1845–6 he travelled in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, and on his return published an account of his travels as Life in Brazil.
He was appointed United States Commissioner of Patents by President Taylor
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States and an American military leader. Initially uninterested in politics, Taylor nonetheless ran as a Whig in the 1848 presidential election, defeating Lewis Cass...
in 1849. He was attacked for the manner in which he fulfilled the duties of his office, which he held till 1852. Ewbank was one of the founders and president of the American Ethnological Society
American Ethnological Society
The American Ethnological Society is the oldest professional anthropological association in the United States.- History of the American Ethnological Society :...
. He died at New York on 16 September 1870.
Works
- A Descriptive and Historical Account of Hydraulic and other Machines for Raising Water, Ancient and Modern, including the progressive development of the Steam Engine, New York, 1845, 16th ed. 1876.
- The World a Workshop, or the Physical Relation of Man to the Earth, New York, 1855.
- Thoughts on Matter and Force, New York, 1858.
- Reminiscences of the Patent Office, and of Scenes and Things in Washington, New York, 1859. * Inorganic Forces ordained to supersede Human Slavery, New York, 1860.
Ewbank also wrote a number of scattered papers on scientific subjects. Many of them appeared in the Transactions of the Franklin Institute. His ‘Experiments on Marine Propulsion, or the Virtue of Form in Propelling Blades,’ attracted some attention in Europe.