David Rittenhouse

David Rittenhouse ( born April 8, 1732 in German Town, now part of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, † June 26, 1796 in Philadelphia ) was an American astronomer and mathematician and the first director of the United States Mint.

Rittenhouse was formed of himself and showed at a young age great skills in science and mathematics. At the age of 19, he opened a shop for scientific instruments on the farm of his father in Norriton. He was a skilled watchmaker. Rittenhouse developed two orreries, mechanical replicas of the solar system, one for the library of the University of Pennsylvania and one for the Princeton University.

He also invented the diffraction grating, and was one of the first to build a telescope that was used in the United States.

From 1779 to 1782 he was professor of astronomy at the University of the State of Pennsylvania and from 1792 to 1795 director of the United States Mint. He went into retirement in 1795 and died of cholera.