Nathan Ames (November 17, 1826 in Roxbury, New Hampshire – August 17, 1865 in Saugus, Massachusetts) was a patent solicitor who held the first patent in the United States for an escalator-like machine. The patent (#25,076) was granted on August 9, 1859, for an invention he called "Revolving Stairs". The escalator had steps mounted on a continuous belt or chain. He also patented machines for improvement in polishing leather during the time when Lynn, Massachusetts, Lynn's shoemaking industry was one of the largest in the world. Another one of his patents was for a Polygraph (duplicating device), polygraph, an early copying machine that operated by using pens connected by wires. Another patent he held was for an improved grater. A writer and a poet, Ames had a disquisition and a Class Ode published during his time at Harvard. His book of poetry ''Pirate’s Glen and Dungeon Rock'' was published in 1853. These poems were based the local pirate legend of Dungeon Rock. His brother Joseph Alexander Ames, Joseph was an American portrait artist. Ames was educated at Phillips Academy at Andover, and Harvard College. His birth name was Nathan Eames, but it was legally changed to Nathan Ames in 1843.

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1826 births 1865 deaths 19th-century American inventors Poets from New Hampshire Harvard College alumni People from Saugus, Massachusetts People from Roxbury, New Hampshire 19th-century American poets American male poets Phillips Academy alumni 19th-century American male writers Inventors from New Hampshire {{US-poet-1820s-stub