# David Rittenhouse

_American astronomer (*1732 – †1796)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/david-rittenhouse
Last updated: 2026-11-01

> David Rittenhouse was an American astronomer, inventor, clockmaker, mathematician, surveyor, scientific instrument craftsman, and public official. Rittenhouse was a member of the American Philosophical Society and the first director of the United States Mint.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 8 April 1732 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q902703#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Germantown ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q902703#P19))
- **Died:** 26 June 1796 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q902703#P570))
- **Place of death:** Philadelphia ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q902703#P20))
- **Citizenship:** United States ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q902703#P27))
- **Occupation:** astronomer; mathematician; inventor; watchmaker; surveyor; geodesist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q902703#P106))
- **Positions held:** Director of the United States Mint (1792–1795); president (1791–1796); Pennsylvania Treasurer ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q902703#P39))
- **Awards:** Fellow of the Royal Society; Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q902703#P166))

## Questions

**When was David Rittenhouse born?**  
David Rittenhouse was born on 8 April 1732 in Germantown.

**What positions has David Rittenhouse held?**  
Positions held by David Rittenhouse include: Director of the United States Mint (1792–1795); president (1791–1796); Pennsylvania Treasurer.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): David Rittenhouse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Rittenhouse) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q902703](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q902703) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Charles Willson Peale - David Rittenhouse - Google Art Project.jpg by Charles Willson Peale (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Charles_Willson_Peale_-_David_Rittenhouse_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article David Rittenhouse, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Charles Willson Peale - David Rittenhouse - Google Art Project.jpg — Charles Willson Peale, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"David Rittenhouse". DigiNepal. Last updated 1 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/david-rittenhouse. Retrieved 15 November 2026.