David Rittenhouse was a highly respected scientist during the formative years of the United States. Anyone who has attempted to survey knows that straight lines are much easier than curves.  Rittenhouse ran the survey that established the circular boundary between Pennsylvania and Delaware, a circle of 12-mile radius, with Newcastle as its center.  He later worked with Andrew Ellicott to extend the Mason-Dixon Line to Ohio in 1784. Finally, he established a point at 42º north latitude for the beginning of the westward line dividing New York and Pennsylvania.  For Pennsylvanians, David Rittenhouse is the most important of all surveyors and if that was all of his talents, we would be impressed but this just scratches the surface.

A clockmaker by trade, Rittenhouse built mathematical instruments and set up the first astronomical observatory in British America, Rittenhouse was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1768, and in 1769 he observed the transit of Venus across the face of the Sun. Rittenhouse also active in politics acting as the treasurer of the state of Pennsylvania from 1777 to 1789. In 1792 Pres. George Washington appointed him the first director of the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia, a position he held for three years.

The Rittenhouse surveyor’s compass was of such superior design and construction, that its use was specified in the U.S. Surveyor General’s instructions to deputy surveyors for many years. In fact, its use continued until sometime after 1836, some 40 years after Rittenhouse’s death.

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