Robert Patterson (educator)
Encyclopedia
Robert Patterson was an American
educator and director of the United States Mint
. He was born on a lease-held farm near Hillsborough
, County Down, Ireland
, emigrated to the United States in 1768, and lived for a time in Philadelphia
.
In 1774, he became principal of an academy in Wilmington, Delaware
. A Patriot
in the American Revolution
, after the battles of Lexington and Concord
he began instructing his students in military matters and served as adjutant
in a local company of the Delaware militia. When classes were suspended because of the War of Independence
, he returned to Greenwich, New Jersey
, where he had earlier lived, and hastily received enough training to serve as an assistant surgeon in a New Jersey militia company. Militia service was not a full-time activity, but he frequently served in the field for nearly three years, and was appointed a brigade major
.
From 1779 to 1814, he was professor of mathematics in the University of Pennsylvania
, being also serving as vice provost from 1810 to 1813. In 1805, without solicitation, President Jefferson
appointed him director of the mint, which position he held until a short time before his death. Always actively interested in the American Philosophical Society
, he was its president from 1819 until his death. He published The Newtonian System (1808) and edited various works on mathematics and physics
. His son, Robert M. Patterson
, followed in his footsteps, also becoming director of the mint and teaching at the University of Pennsylvania.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator and director of the United States Mint
United States Mint
The United States Mint primarily produces circulating coinage for the United States to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint was created by Congress with the Coinage Act of 1792, and placed within the Department of State...
. He was born on a lease-held farm near Hillsborough
Hillsborough, County Down
Hillsborough is a village and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland, situated from the city of Belfast. It is within the Lisburn City Council area....
, County Down, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, emigrated to the United States in 1768, and lived for a time in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
.
In 1774, he became principal of an academy in Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
. A Patriot
Patriot (American Revolution)
Patriots is a name often used to describe the colonists of the British Thirteen United Colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution. It was their leading figures who, in July 1776, declared the United States of America an independent nation...
in the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, after the battles of Lexington and Concord
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. They were fought on April 19, 1775, in Middlesex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, within the towns of Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, Menotomy , and Cambridge, near Boston...
he began instructing his students in military matters and served as adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
in a local company of the Delaware militia. When classes were suspended because of the War of Independence
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, he returned to Greenwich, New Jersey
Greenwich Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey
Greenwich Township is a township in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Vineland-Millville- Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area for statistical purposes...
, where he had earlier lived, and hastily received enough training to serve as an assistant surgeon in a New Jersey militia company. Militia service was not a full-time activity, but he frequently served in the field for nearly three years, and was appointed a brigade major
Brigade Major
In the British Army, a Brigade Major was the Chief of Staff of a brigade. He held the rank of Major and was head of the brigade's "G - Operations and Intelligence" section directly and oversaw the two other branches, "A - Administration" and "Q - Quartermaster"...
.
From 1779 to 1814, he was professor of mathematics in the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, being also serving as vice provost from 1810 to 1813. In 1805, without solicitation, President Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
appointed him director of the mint, which position he held until a short time before his death. Always actively interested in the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
, he was its president from 1819 until his death. He published The Newtonian System (1808) and edited various works on mathematics and physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
. His son, Robert M. Patterson
Robert M. Patterson
Robert Maskell Patterson was a professor of mathematics, chemistry and natural philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania and professor of natural philosophy at the University of Virginia before serving as director of the US Mint from 1835 to 1851...
, followed in his footsteps, also becoming director of the mint and teaching at the University of Pennsylvania.