Abraham Lincoln was granted a patent for an invention during his lifetime. He was the only U.S. president to hold a patent. The patent was granted on May 22, 1849 and was for a device to lift boats over shoals and obstructions in a river. The invention was designed to help river boats navigate around obstacles in shallow water.
Lincoln’s invention was never manufactured, but the patent documents provide a unique glimpse into his inventive mind and his concerns with improving transportation and commerce. The patent is a testament to his creative and innovative thinking, and his belief in the importance of protecting intellectual property.