Gobrecht was born on December 23, 1785, in Hanover, Pennsylvania, to Reverend John C. Gobrecht, pastor in the German Reformed Church, who came to America from Germany in 1755, and Elizabeth Sands, with ancestry going back to 1642 in the Plymouth Colony.
Early in life, Gobrecht was apprenticed to a clock-maker in Manheim, Lancaster County. Not long after he began his apprenticeship his master died.
Relieved of his indenture, Gobrecht went to Baltimore, where he soon established himself as an engraver of ornamental work for clocks and watches, including dials and maker’s name-plates. He is said to have been almost entirely self-taught. Subsequently, he abandoned watch and clock engraving and devoted himself to the business of general engraving.
At first, his work consisted of engraving headings for newspapers, and type- punches for type-founders. Eventually, he deserted this work and became writing- and seal engraver and die-sinker.
About 1811, he removed to Philadelphia, where he was employed in 1816 by Murray, Draper, Fairman & Company, banknote engravers. In 1826, he is known to have furnished designs and models of dies for the United States Mint, in Philadelphia, and in 1836, he was appointed assistant engraver of the Mint.
Four years later, he was appointed engraver of the Mint, remaining in that position until his death.
Early in his career, Gobrecht invented a medal ruling machine, by means of which a medal could be copied and engraved. The machine was used by its inventor on only one production, a portrait of Alexander I, of Russia. It was found, in cases of high relief, greatly to distort the features. In addition to his abilities as an engraver, he was a most ingenious mechanic.
Sometime between 1816 and 1821, he “invented and manufactured a reed organ, made of an assemblage of metallic tongues placed in a case and operated with a bellows and keys”.
At the time Maezel’s automatons were being exhibited, he invented a speaking doll, and later a camera lucida. He also produced engravings for calico printers and dies for bookbinders.
He engraved the brass dies for embossing the Morocco covers of the Boston Token, from 1831 to 1836, as well as the eagle cover of the Philadelphia Token.
Gobrecht died in Philadelphia and was buried in Monument Cemetery.
Gobrecht invented a medal ruling machine, by means of which a medal could be copied and engraved. Also, he invented and manufactured a reed organ, made of an assemblage of metallic tongues placed in a case and operated with a bellows and keys. At the time Maezel’s automatons were being exhibited, he invented a speaking doll, and later a camera lucida. He also produced engravings for calico printers and dies for bookbinders. Among the medals he engraved were the Charles Willson Peale medal, the Franklin Institute medal, and the medal of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association.
On May 31, 1818, Gobrecht married Mary (Hamilton) Hewes, the widow of Daniel Hewes.
