Bennet Woodcroft – Patent information pioneer Original Research Article

Bennet Woodcroft was the first technical expert in the 19th century GB Patent Office and was also an engineer, patentee, patent agent, university professor, librarian, museum collector and historian of technology. 150 years ago in 1862 he secured 2 early steam engines, the Rocket and Puffing Billy, for what is now the Science Museum in London, UK. The same year were published the patent abridgement volumes that bear his name, a first in the use of patents as a source of technical information. On this anniversary it seems appropriate to reconsider the life of this remarkable man.