SPEAR, Ellis, commissioner of patents, born in Warren, Knox County, Maine, 15 October, 1834. He was graduated at Bowdoin in 1858, entered the National army in August, 1862, as a captain of Maine volunteers, was promoted through the intermediate grades to colonel, and from October, 1863, till February, 1865, commanded a regiment in the Army of the Potomac. He was brevetted for his services at Peebles Farm, where he was in command of a brigade while holding the rank of major, subsequently received the brevet of colonel for gallantry in action, and on 9 April, 1865, that of brigadier-general. He served for a short time as inspector of division, and at the close of the war was in command of a brigade. He was mustered out in July, 1865. In November of that year he became an assistant examiner of railway and civil engineering in the United States patent-office. He was appointed examiner in 1868, examiner-in-chief in the same bureau in 18'72, and assistant commissioner of patents in 1874. In 1876 he resigned and engaged in private business till January, 1877, when he was appointed commissioner of patents. He held this office till November, 1878, when he again resigned. He has since been in practice as an attorney and solicitor in patent cases.