FIRST PATENT
The first U.S. patent was granted in 1790 to Samuel Hopkins of Philadelphia for "making pot and pearl ashes"-a cleaning formula used in soapmaking.

This patent is referred to as Patent X1. Patent numbers were not assigned to patents until 1836.

FIRST FEMALE PATENT HOLDER
In 1809, Mary Dixon Kies, a native of Killingly, Conn., is reported to have received the first U.S. patent awarded to a woman for a process of weaving straw with silk or thread. Unfortunately, all records of this patent were destroyed in the Patent Office fire of 1836. On the morning of December 15, 1836, the Patent Office, then located at the Blodgett's Hotel in Washington, D.C., was consumed by fire. Among the lost patent-related materials were an estimated 7,000 models and 9,000 drawings of pending and patented inventions.

FIRST PATENT GRANTED AFTER NUMBERING STARTS
Patent numbering started on July 13, 1836. Patent No. 1 was issued to Senator John Ruggles of Thompson, Maine, for a locomotive steam engine for rail and other roads.

"A new and useful improvement or improvements on locomotive-engines used on railroads and common roads by which inclined planes and hills may be ascended and heavy loads drawn up the same with more facility and economy than heretofore…" 

FIRST DESIGN PATENT
The first design patent was granted to George Bruce of New York City for a typeface.

FIRST PLANT PATENT
Plant Patent #1 was issued in 1931 to Henry Bosenberg of New Brunswick, NJ for a climbing or trailing rose. Said Mr. Bosenberg of his invention, "My invention now gives the true everblooming character to climbing roses."

YOUNGEST PATENT HOLDER
The youngest person to be granted a patent is a four-year-old girl from Houston, Texas, for an aid for grasping round knobs.

"This invention relates to a device for grasping drawer or cabinet knobs which is particularly useful to physically impaired persons who would otherwise, due to such impairment, have great difficulty in opening and closing drawers or cabinets utilizing such knobs."