Charles Holland Duell (April 13, 1850 – January 29, 1920) was the commissioner of the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 1899, and was later a United States federal judge.
Born in Cortland, New York, Duell received an A.B. from Hamilton College in 1871, and graduated from Hamilton College Law School in 1872.[1] He was in private practice in New York City from 1873 to 1880, and was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1878 in 1880.[1] He moved his practice to Syracuse, New York from 1880 to 1898.[1]
In 1898, he was appointed as the United States Commissioner of Patents, and held that post until 1901. In that role, he is famous for purportedly saying "Everything that can be invented has been invented."[2] However, this has been debunked as apocryphal by librarian Samuel Sass.[3] In fact, Duell said in 1902:
In my opinion, all previous advances in the various lines of invention will appear totally insignificant when compared with those which the present century will witness. I almost wish that I might live my life over again to see the wonders which are at the threshold.[4]
Another possible origin of this famous statement may actually be found in Patent Office Commissioner Henry Ellsworth's 1843 report to Congress. In it Ellsworth states, "The advancement of the arts, from year to year, taxes our credulity and seems to presage the arrival of that period when human improvement must end." This quote was apparently then mispresented and addressed to a later commissioner, Charles H. Duell, who held the same office in 1899.[5]
Duell returned to private practice in New York City until 1904.[1] On December 16, 1904, Duell was nominated by President Theodore Roosevelt to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit vacated by Seth Shepard.[1] Duell was confirmed by the United States Senate On January 5, 1905, and received his commission the same day, but he only remained on the bench for a year and a half, resigning on August 31, 1906.[1] He resumed his private practice in New York City until 1915.
He died in Yonkers, New York.[1]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Benjamin Butterworth |
United States Commissioner of Patents 1898–1901 |
Succeeded by Frederick Innes Allen |
| Preceded by Seth Shepard |
Judge of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit 1904–1906 |
Succeeded by Charles Henry Robb |