William Penn, Royal Governor of the colony of Pennsylvania, issues the Frame of Government of Pennsylvania, Articles 10 and 21 of which,

  • Extends to inventors exclusive rights to the use of their inventions;
  • Extends to aliens the same rights of inheritance as subjects.

       [added 10/19/2024]

Subsequent Events:

Authority:

Magna Carta, Chapter 13
ccc-2point0.com/Magna-Carta-excerpts

References:

The Avalon Project : Frame of Government of Pennsylvania – February 2, 1683
avalon.law.yale.edu/17th_century/pa05.asp

Current U.s. National Debt:

$36,190,276,558,466

Source