This Day in History – July 31, 1790 Tags: 18th century America, American innovation, Edmund Randolph, first federal patent, first US patent, Founding Fathers, George Washington, Historical Documents, industrial history, July 31 1790, July 31 1790 history, Legal History, Patent Act of 1790, patent law history, potash and pearlash, Samuel Hopkins, scientific advancement, this day in history, This Day in History 1790, This Day in History July 31, Thomas Jefferson, US government history, US History, US Patent and Trademark Office, Vermont history, Share on: Share: This is where the text will go.View our photo collection! View Collection