Jones, Thomas P.

Jones, Thomas P.

(1774–1848) engineer, publisher; born in Herefordshire, England. Emigrating to America as a youth, he ended up in New York City. There he was cofounder (1825), publisher, and editor of American Mechanics Magazine. When he accepted a post teaching at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia (1826) he merged his magazine with that of the Institute; in 1828 its new title became the Journal of the Franklin Institute. He retained his post as editor until his death, even when he moved to Washington, D.C., to serve as superintendent (1828–37) then examiner (1837–38) of the U.S. Patent Office.