Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-05


y ton? He was many times an anomaly.
He was the designer and the first
architect Of the United States Capitol Build
ing, yet he not an architect. He was the
first superintendent of patents, yet he was not
O patent attorney, nor even lawyer. He was
one of the first Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia, and for more than 80 years
the most prominent outstanding and distin-
guished local resident Of Washington, yet the
records do not disclose that he was an Ameri-
can citizen.
washington is studded with monuments to
the memory of heroes Of war and Of peace, yet
there is not even tablet to commemorate the
accomplishments of the man who, next TO
Washington, jefferson and L'Enfant, did more
in the early days for the upbuilding OF the
Federal City than any other. Not park,
street, an edifice bears his name, not even the
monumental pile on Capitol Hill which his
skill designed and which was originally con-
Gtructed under his direction.
The suggestion has been made that it would
be most appropriate for the patent lawyers OF
the country aided by the American Institute
OF Architects, whose headquarters are in the
Octagon House, which he also designed, to
erect a suitable memorial to DR.. Thornton in
the triangle facing Pennsylvania avenue in
front of the new Patent ONCE, because it was
he who first organized this important division
Of the Government and laid the foundation for
the development of the inventive genius OF the
country. Commissioner of Patents Robertson
approves the idea, but as yet it is only sug-
geStion.
r TITLE was known in America of the science
of architecture at the time the Capitol was
projected There were probably not a half dozen
professional architects in the country, and even
those were from abroad Jefferson doubtless
knew more about architecture as a science than
any of his countrymen, but with him it was
sort of hobby rather than a profession, and,
moreover his activities were devoted to the
performance of his duties as Secretary OF State.
He did, however, consult and advise with
washington in the matter Of the building OF
the Capitol and the Presidents House"
washington expressed himself by saying that
sfchaste plan sufficiently capacious and con-
venient for period not too far remote, but
one to which we may reasonably look forward,
would meet my ideas in Capitol
Accordingly. an advertisement was prepared
and inserted in newspapers offering premium
of lot in the City of Washington and in addi-
ton $500 in money, "or medal OF that value,
In the option of the party" for "the most APP
proved plan for Capitol" A premium of $3.50
or a medal was offered for the plan deemed
second in merit.
II was specified that the building be of brick
with "a conference room and a room for Rep
teSentatives, sufficient to accommodate 300
persons EACH a lobby or anteroom to the latter
a Senate room of 200 square feet area, an
antechamber and IL rooms of 500 square feet
each for committee rooms and clerks offices" =
The advertisement contained the suggestion
that it would be a recommendation Of any
plan eff the central part Of it may be detached
and erected for the present with the appear
ance of a complete whole, and be capable of
admitting the additional parts in future if they
shall be wanted"
THE work on the Capitol and other public
= buildings in the new Federal City was
slow, owing to the lack of funds, which were
chiefly derived from the sale of lots in Wash
Ington. It became apparent that the Capitol
would not be in readiness for the use of Con-
gress at the time specified for the removal of
the Government from Philadelphia to Wash
ington Congress, after much discussion, was
induced to authorize a loan of 100000 to the
City Of Washington for the completion of the
work. 1t Thornton who then obtained
the necessary money by the sale of the bonds
In Philadelphia and in London.
When Thornton retired as commissioner, with
the abolition of the Office, President Jefferson
appointed him clerk in charge OF patents,
which were then issued by the Secretary of
State, generally after a conference with other
members of the cabinet. AS such his salary
was 81 400 a year, but later he was made
superintendent of patents at $4,000 year. In
that position, which he held until his death
as years later, he laid the foundation for the
present Patent Office and fostered and en-
couraged the inventive genius of the country
He established the Patent Office in Blodgett's
Hotel, at the corner Of Seventh and Streets
and here defended it against intended de-
struction by the British when they raided the
Capital in 1914.
1t is related that when a British officer
ordered gun directed at the Patent ONCE
Thornton rode up, leaped from his horse and
standing before the cannon exclaimed, "Are
you Englishmen, Goths and VandalS? This
is the Patent Office the depository of the
inventive genius of America, in which the
whole civilized world is concerned. Would you
destroy it? If so, fire away and let the charge
pass through my body!"
BY this means he saved the records of the
Office and removed them to his farm in Mary
land for safe keeping, so that was lost