| William Kneass | |
|---|---|
| Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint | |
| In office January 29, 1824 – August 27, 1840 |
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| President | John Quincy Adams Andrew Jackson Martin Van Buren |
| Preceded by | Robert Scot |
| Succeeded by | Christian Gobrecht |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 25, 1781 Lancaster, Pennsylvania |
| Died | August 27, 1840 (aged 58) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Turner Honeyman Kneass |
| Children | Samuel Honeyman Strickland Kneass 4 others |
| Occupation | engraver |
William Kneass (pronounced /ˈniːs/ "niece") (September 25, 1781 – August 27, 1840) was the second Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1824 until his death in 1840. Kneass designed the Classic Head motif which appeared on Quarter Eagle ($2.50) and Half Eagle ($5.00) gold pieces from 1834-1839. He also modified John Reich's Capped Bust design on the dime through half-dollar for the years 1829-1837. Additionally, Kneass utilized his modified Capped Bust for the rebirth of the half-dime in 1829.
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William Kneass was born in September 1781 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.[1] Kneass served in the War of 1812 as a volunteer associate of the field engineers, and helped construct fortifications on the western front of Philadelphia[1]. He ran an engraving office on Fourth above Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, which was a popular meeting place for "leading wits and men of culture". Kneass also worked as an engraver of plates for bookwork.[1] Although Kneass mainly worked in line engraving, he was also known for producing aquatints.[2] Kneass also worked in two other engraving firms that bore his name: Kneass & Dellaker, and Young & Kneass & Co.
On January 29, 1824, Kneass was appointed Chief Engraver of the United States Mint. During his tenure as Chief Engraver, Kneass oversaw production of gold coinage, and circulating coinage.[3]
In 1830, Kneass redesigned the quarter, and in 1834, redesigned the gold coinage. He also introduced a new Liberty head on the half dollar, a design that was modified several times over the next two years. In 1835 Mint director Samuel Moore wrote of him: "Mr. Kneass, our present engraver ... is an acceptable, popular and very useful Officer, perhaps one of the most rapid in execution in the U. States. I do not know whether another could be found, whose celerity in his profession could have sufficed to furnish all the dies we have necessarily employed within the last five years."[4]
On August 27, 1835, Kneass suffered a debilitating stroke that left him paralyzed on his right side[5], when from then on, assistant engraver Christian Gobrecht did all pattern and die work, until Kneass died in office on August 27, 1840.[6] Kneass was succeeded by Gobrecht as Chief Engraver on December 21 of that year.
Kneass was married to Mary Turner Honeyman Kneass. One of their 6[1] children, Samuel Honeyman Kneass (1806–1858)[7], was a notable civil engineer and architect, based in Philadelphia.[3] Another, Strickland Kneass was an engineer.[1] Kneass was remembered as "a warm gentleman gentleman of the old-school, who had the rare quality of engaging and winning the esteem and affection of children and youth"[1]
| Government offices | ||
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| Preceded by Robert Scot |
Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint 1824–1840 |
Succeeded by Christian Gobrecht |
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