Abraham Lincoln is the only
President ever to have secured a patent for an invention. For several
years
of his young life he transported freight on flat bottom river boats. Being
familiar with the difficulties of running aground he invented inflatable
bladders which were designed to lift loaded boats high enough in the water to
clear shallow areas, thus averting any lost time by running aground. Below
is
a copy of the original description submitted by Abraham Lincoln.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS BUOYING VESSELS OVER SHOALS
"To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that I, Abraham Lincoln, of Springfield, in the County of
Sangamon, in the State of Illinois, have invented a new and improved manner of
combining adjustable buoyant air chambers with a steamboat or other vessel for
the purpose of enabling their draught of water to be readily lessened to enable
them to pass over bars, or through shallow water, without discharging their
cargoes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact
description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings making a
part of this specification. Similar letters indicate like parts in all the
figures. The buoyant chambers A, A, which I employ, are constructed in such a
manner that they can be expanded so as to hold a large volume of air when
required for use, and can be contracted, into a very small space and safely
secured as soon as their services can be dispensed with."
