On August 14, 1951, Clarence L. Fender received U.S. Patent No. D164227 on a Guitar:

Fender went on to get U.S. Patent No. D186,826 on an Electric Guitar in 1959, and U.S. Patent No. D187,001 on a Bass Guitar in 1960.

Clarence Leonidas Fender was born on August 10, 1909, was an American inventor and founder of the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Fender designed the company’s iconic early instruments: the Fender Telecaster and the Fender Stratocaster, among the most iconic electric guitars; and the Fender Precision Bass. He also designed the Fender Bassman amplifier. Ironically, Fender was not a guitarist himself.