Many Foreign Inventors Win Patents in the U. S.

A survey by the Inventors foundation reveals that many of the important inventions that have originated in the United States were made by those of foreign birth whose talent was given full scope and encouragement by the United States patent system, established in 1836. American patent laws, according to the foundation, have made the United States the mecca for inventions from all parts of the world, and have been one of the most influential factors in economic development.

Between 1790 and 1836 when the present patent system was established, 10,000 patents were granted. A large proportion of the most revolutionary patents have been the work of foreigners, who found their inspiration in America.

John Erlesson, from Sweden, Invented the “Monitor”; Alexander Graham Bell, coming from Scotland, invented the telephone: Nikola Tesla, from Austria-Hungary, perfected the induction motor; Michael J. Pupin, a poor immigrant from Serbia, invented the loading coil that made it possible to telephone across the continent, and Charles P. Steinmetz, known as the electrical wizard, came from Germany.