The Man Who Invented Modern Patents

Filippo Brunelleschi did more than design the world’s largest masonry dome. In 1421, he received the first modern patent in history to protect his unique design for a ship that transported marble up the river.

While famous for the iconic Florence Cathedral, Brunelleschi was also a brilliant engineer. He wanted to ensure his invention for a cargo ship was not stolen by rivals, leading to the creation of the first legal monopoly for an invention. This set the foundation for how we protect intellectual property today. His mastery of linear perspective also forever changed how artists and scientists visualize three-dimensional space.