MELTER & REFINERS
David Ott
1st Melter / Refiner
1792 - 1796
David Ott (17?? - 179?) The original Mint act failed to provide for a Melter / Refiner. David Ott was the headmaster of the German Lutheran School in Philadelphia and first worked for the mint in late December 1792, and was paid $24.17 for assaying coins on January 7th, 1793. He then began the work of melter / refiner starting on November 1st, 1794. Once the Congressional Committee investigating the Mint recommended in a report of February 9th, 1795,
that a provision should be made for an officer to take charge of the process of reducing the bullion after it was assayed and melting it into ingots or bars for the rolling mills, Ott was temporarily appointed to that job pro tem, on March 3rd. However, he was never commissioned as the Melter / Refiner and resigned on November 7th, 1796.
that a provision should be made for an officer to take charge of the process of reducing the bullion after it was assayed and melting it into ingots or bars for the rolling mills, Ott was temporarily appointed to that job pro tem, on March 3rd. However, he was never commissioned as the Melter / Refiner and resigned on November 7th, 1796.
Joseph Cloud
2nd Melter / Refiner
1796 - 1836
Joseph Cloud (1770 - 1845), was born on August 27th, 1770, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. He began working for the Mint on November 12th, 1796, to replace David Ott, and he was officially commissioned on January 2nd, 1797. Joseph was elected to America's oldest scholarly organization, the American Philosophical Society (founded by Benjamin Franklin), in 1806. He served as Secretary (1812) and Curator (1814-22) under Thomas Jefferson who was President of the Society from 1797 to 1814.
He was married, Aug. 21, 1797, to Eliza, daughter of Enoch and Elizabeth (Maris) Taylor, of West Bradford. He was at the head of the melting and refining department of the United States mint, at Philadelphia, until Jan. 14, 1836, when he resigned on account of failing eyesight. Besides two daughters, Eliza and Elizabeth, who died young, he had a son, Joseph, born Dec. 17th, 1800, who was married to Elizabeth Roberts. The younger Joseph owned what was known as the Como farm, in West Bradford, and was familiarly spoken of as young Dr. Cloud; he died on June 2nd, 1834. His son, Edwin Cloud, resided in Franklin Township. The elder Joseph died July 31st, 1845,, in Radnor, and was buried at Laurel Hill.
He was married, Aug. 21, 1797, to Eliza, daughter of Enoch and Elizabeth (Maris) Taylor, of West Bradford. He was at the head of the melting and refining department of the United States mint, at Philadelphia, until Jan. 14, 1836, when he resigned on account of failing eyesight. Besides two daughters, Eliza and Elizabeth, who died young, he had a son, Joseph, born Dec. 17th, 1800, who was married to Elizabeth Roberts. The younger Joseph owned what was known as the Como farm, in West Bradford, and was familiarly spoken of as young Dr. Cloud; he died on June 2nd, 1834. His son, Edwin Cloud, resided in Franklin Township. The elder Joseph died July 31st, 1845,, in Radnor, and was buried at Laurel Hill.
Franklin Peale
3rd Melter / Refiner
1836 - 1839
3rd Melter / Refiner
1836 - 1839
Benjamin Franklin Peale (1795 - 1870), was born in Philadelphia on October 15th, 1795, one of the sons of famed artist Charles Willson Peale. When he was born, his father requested that the members of the American Philosophical Society give him his name and he was named after the founder of the society, Benjamin Franklin. For most of his life he was known simply as Franklin. Young Peale early on showed a taste for mechanics, and his father gave him every facility to improve himself in any direction in which nature seemed to lead him. Part of his general education was received at the University of Pennsylvania and part at the Germantown Academy. At the age of seventeen he entered the machine shop of Hodgson & Bro. in Delaware. He soon grew to be a skilled mechanic and draughtsman. Some time after, he became manager of his father's Museum. He assisted Matthias Baldwin in the construction of the first locomotive built in this country. From 1822 until 1833 he was employed as the manager of the Philadelphia Museum.
In 1833, Peale entered the Mint Service in Mint Director Samuel Moore’s office. Moore sent Franklin to Europe for two years to observe other Mint facilities and gather information for technological coining improvements for the U.S. Mint, as Assistant Assayer. Once Peale returned from Europe, many new pieces of equipment were installed, culminating in the introduction of new steam presses in late 1835 and early 1836. He was made the Chief Coiner after Adam Eckfeldt retired and recommended him for the post. He held this position until 1854, although leaving under some interesting circumstances, and he passed away on May 5th, 1870.
In 1833, Peale entered the Mint Service in Mint Director Samuel Moore’s office. Moore sent Franklin to Europe for two years to observe other Mint facilities and gather information for technological coining improvements for the U.S. Mint, as Assistant Assayer. Once Peale returned from Europe, many new pieces of equipment were installed, culminating in the introduction of new steam presses in late 1835 and early 1836. He was made the Chief Coiner after Adam Eckfeldt retired and recommended him for the post. He held this position until 1854, although leaving under some interesting circumstances, and he passed away on May 5th, 1870.