In the US, 276,788 patents were awarded in calendar year 2012. A surprisingly detailed list is linked below.
In the USA alone there have been over 8,300,000 patents issued. Add to these all of the other patents in all of the other countries and you will have your answer.
That would be only President Lincoln.
Alexander Graham Bell had 18 patents issued to him only, and 12 issued to him and collaborators.
Three patents (one for cosmetics, and two for paints and stains) were issued to George Washington Carver
Some of Tesla's patents are not accounted for, and various sources have discovered some that have lain hidden in patent archives. There are a minimum of 278 patents issued to Tesla in 26 countries that have been accounted for.
Elijah McCoy had 57 patents , born in Canada and I don't care what people say he is not might've been the most stupid and ugly looking person in the world
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The US Patent Office issued 99,200 total patents from 1 January 1990 to 31 December 1990, including 9 reissue patents, 6 plant patents, 194 design patents, and 98,991 utility patents.
There wasn't a patent office until 1900's.
I believe the final count was 1093 patents issued to Tom.
It depends upon what country you're talking about and how "early" you mean. By 1899 there were over 600,000 US patents. In 1850 there were less than 8,000.
5,185 civil union licenses have been issued in Illinois as of December 18, 2012.