Background
Duell, Charles Holland was born on April 13, 1850 in Cortland, New York, United States. Son of R. Holland D. (commissioner of patents, 1875) and Mary L. (Cuyler) D.
Duell, Charles Holland was born on April 13, 1850 in Cortland, New York, United States. Son of R. Holland D. (commissioner of patents, 1875) and Mary L. (Cuyler) D.
He graduated Bachelor of Arts from Hamilton College in 1871, and from Hamilton College Law School in 1872.
He moved his practice to Syracuse, New York from 1880 to 1898. 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." However, this has been debunked as apocryphal by librarian Samuel Sass who traced the quote back to 1981 book titled "The Book of Facts and Fallacies" by Chris Morgan and David Langford.
In fact, 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. Another possible origin of this famous statement may actually be found in a report to Congress in 1843 by an earlier Patent Office Commissioner, Henry Ellsworth.
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 education" This quote was apparently then mispresented and attributed to, who held the same office in 1899. returned to private practice in New York City until 1904. On December 16, 1904, was nominated by President Theodore Roosevelt to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated by Seth Shepard. 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.
He resumed his private practice in New York City until 1915.
He died on January 29, 1920, in Yonkers, New New York
Quotations: "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 education".
He was in private practice in New York City from 1873 to 1880, and was a member of the New York State Assembly (New York Company, 13th Doctorate) in 1878 and 1880.
Married Harriet M. Sackett, November 20, 1879.