Person Rittenhouse; David (1732 - 1796) Rittenhouse David 1732 - 1796 British Male Paper Mill Run, near Germantown, Pennsylvania 08 April 1732 Philadephia, Pennsylvania, USA 26 June 1796

Scientific instrument maker Technology Astronomy Natural philosophy Career: Established himself as a clock and mathematical instrument maker in Norriston (1751); took up astronomy (1768); moved to Philadelphia (1770) and studied the electrical properties of the electric eel and surveyed the levels of the lands between the Suquehama and Delaware Rivers; constructed cannon of iron and of brass; elected Member of the Assembly from Philadelphia (1776); elected State Treasurer (1777-1789); Professor of Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania (1779-1782); Secretary of the American Philosophical Society (1771), Vice President (1786) and President (1790-1796) First experiment in the New World to make crosshairs with spider silk for his astronomical instruments. Described his experience to Reverend John Ewing (1732-1802) the first provost of the University of Pennsylvania, in a letter read before the members of the American Philosophical Society and then published in 1786 in the Society's 'Transactions'. "I have lately with no small dificulty placed the thread of a spider in some of my instruments, it has a beautiful effect, it is not one tenth the size of a silkworm, and is rounder and more evenly of a thickness". Memberships: American Philosophical Society (1768) Eldest son of Matthias Rittenhous Fellow 16/04/1795 Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DAB; DSB References: Frank R Freemon, 'American Colonial Scientists Who Published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society' in NR 1984-85 vol 39 pp 191-206 Notes: Bulloch's Roll has birth place as Roxburgh, PA International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 NA6502 21/11/2001 Andyg Gudrun 28/03/2023 RS_NET\JonathanB Yes d2e8d928-3e0c-4f6a-b492-fd3d32d7b338