Who is the only US president to own a patent and a saloon?
Asked by: Bernhard Hirthe | Last update: February 4, 2026Score: 4.9/5 (25 votes)
The only U.S. President to own both a patent and a saloon is Abraham Lincoln, who was granted a patent for a device to lift boats over shoals and also held a liquor license for a New Salem, Illinois tavern he ran with a partner before his presidency.
What U.S. president had a liquor license?
Abraham Lincoln is, in fact, the only president to have a bartender's liquor license in his name. Before entering politics, he ran a general store in New Salem, Illinois, with his business partner, William Berry.
Who is the only U.S. president to hold a patent?
Abraham Lincoln is the only U.S. president to have received a patent, granted in 1849 for a device to help boats navigate shallow waters by using inflatable air chambers to increase buoyancy, an invention inspired by his own experiences with stranded riverboats. His patent (No. 6,469) was for "A Device for Buoying Vessels Over Shoals," though the invention was never commercially produced.
Who was the only president that was a licensed bartender?
Not only was Abraham Lincoln an accomplished wrestler, a lawyer, and the only former President to hold a patent, he is also the only licensed bartender to become President of the United States. Long before his political career, Lincoln went into business with an old military friend of his, William F. Berry.
Who is the only U.S. president to have a PhD?
The only U.S. President with a Ph.D. is Woodrow Wilson, who earned his doctorate in History and Government from Johns Hopkins University in 1886, making him the sole president with an earned doctorate degree. Wilson, a scholar and university president before his presidency, remains unique in this academic achievement.
Greatest Speech in American History (Abe Lincoln's Gettysburg Address)
Does Donald Trump have any college degrees?
Yes, Donald Trump has a college degree, a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, which he received in 1968 after transferring from Fordham University. He attended the New York Military Academy before his university studies.
Which president had a stroke and wife ran the country?
President Woodrow Wilson had a severe stroke in 1919, after which his wife, Edith Bolling Galt Wilson, effectively ran the country by pre-screening all state matters, visitors, and documents for the remainder of his term, acting as a "steward" of the presidency in a constitutionally unprecedented role. She controlled access to the incapacitated President, deciding what issues reached him and how they were handled, leading her to be called the "Secret President".
What president was a heavy drinker?
Presidents often noted for heavy drinking include Ulysses S. Grant, Franklin Pierce, and Andrew Johnson, considered the primary 19th-century alcoholics, while James Buchanan also purchased vast quantities of whiskey; other notable drinkers include George Washington, John Adams, Theodore Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson, though drinking habits and interpretations vary, with some, like Grant, battling addiction while others, like Buchanan, simply consuming heavily.
Who was the first president to use a toilet in the White House?
Not too long after running water was available in the White House, there was the first flush toilet. President Millard Fillmore, who served from 1850 to 1853, was the first to use one.
Which U.S. president was a mule driver as a boy?
James Garfield also served as a mule team driver, a janitor, and a carpenter. Did you know that James A. Garfield was not only a student at what would become Hiram College, but he was also the president of that school until leaving for the Civil War.
What patent does Elon Musk have?
Elon Musk holds patents primarily for innovations at his companies, especially Tesla, covering AI-driven autonomous driving features (like Summon), vehicle design (charging ports, Model X aspects), solar energy systems, and potentially early ideas for online business directories, though his approach to patents is complex, often releasing them for public use while companies like Tesla amass large portfolios.
Does Michael Jackson have a patent?
Michael Jackson registered a patent for anti-gravity footwear. Do you remember his incredible dance moves from the “Smooth Criminal” video when he would lean forward at extreme angles without falling? Turns out his magic moves were assisted by his anti-gravity shoes as patented in United States Patent Reg.
What is the most valuable patent in history?
Patent No. 174,465, granted to Alexander Graham Bell in 1876 for the invention of the telephone, is often heralded as one of the most valuable patents ever issued.
Which president banned alcohol in the USA?
On October 28, 1919, the United States Senate voted 65 to 20 to override President Woodrow Wilson's veto of the Volstead Act. Since the House had also voted to override the veto, America entered the Prohibition era.
What was the worst kept secret of Prohibition?
Prohibition's worst-kept secret was the ubiquitous, openly operating speakeasies (illicit bars) and widespread bootlegging, where alcohol flowed freely despite the law, often with payoffs to police and federal agents, defying the 18th Amendment through blatant defiance, bribes, and widespread consumer demand. The sheer number of these hidden (but not very hidden) establishments and the open commerce in illegal liquor became a defining feature of the era, showing how easily the ban was circumvented.
What is the president allowed not allowed to do?
A PRESIDENT CANNOT . . .
declare war. decide how federal money will be spent. interpret laws. choose Cabinet members or Supreme Court Justices without Senate approval.
Which president did not use the Bible to take the oath of office?
Several U.S. Presidents did not use a Bible for their oath, including John Quincy Adams (used a law book), Theodore Roosevelt (used no book at his first swearing-in), and Lyndon B. Johnson (used a Catholic missal), with Calvin Coolidge also noting he didn't use one, adhering to Vermont tradition. The Constitution doesn't require a Bible, allowing for these variations, often signifying a belief in secularism or responding to unique circumstances.
Do the president and first lady sleep in the same room?
Yes, the President and First Lady, specifically Donald and Melania Trump, have famously slept in separate bedrooms, often on different floors of the White House, a practice reported to have continued during his presidency and even on state visits, which is not uncommon for the wealthy and can be a sign of affluence or simply a personal preference, though it has often sparked media speculation.
Which president ate a 12 oz steak every morning?
President William Howard Taft, the 27th U.S. President, was famous for his hearty appetite, famously starting his day with a substantial breakfast that included a 12-ounce steak, along with toast, coffee, and oranges, a detail chronicled by his White House housekeeper, Elizabeth Jaffray.
Which president's wife had a drinking problem?
In 1978, her prescription drug and alcohol use led to a family intervention and her self-admittance to Long Beach Naval Hospital for treatment. In facing her personal problems, Betty Ford again dealt openly and honestly with the public.
Who drank 106 beers in one night?
Professional wrestler André the Giant is famously cited as the person who drank 106 beers in one night, a legendary feat recounted by fellow wrestler Ric Flair, who witnessed it in a Charlotte bar around 1974-1975, though other stories mention even higher numbers like 108 or 119 beers.
Which president made drunk driving illegal?
WASHINGTON — Friday, Oct. 23 marks a significant milestone as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) celebrates the 20th anniversary of President Bill Clinton signing the . 08 BAC national standard into law.
Which president married his wife twice?
Two U.S. Presidents married twice during their time in office: John Tyler (his first wife died) and Woodrow Wilson (his first wife died), both remarrying to different women while serving as President, expanding the concept of the First Lady role with their second wives.
What president ate cherries and milk and died?
President Zachary Taylor (the 12th U.S. President) is widely believed to have died from consuming large quantities of cherries and milk, along with iced water, on a hot July 4th, 1850, leading to severe gastrointestinal distress and ultimately, death by cholera or acute gastroenteritis a few days later. His death sparked rumors of poisoning, though investigations later suggested bacterial contamination from the fruit or milk, rather than deliberate poisoning, was the likely cause, as a 1991 exhumation found only non-fatal levels of arsenic (National Archives.gov).