John Philip Holland

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John Philip Holland
John Philip Holland
For other persons named John Holland, see John Holland (disambiguation).

John Philip Holland (Irish: Seán Ó Maolchalann) (24 February 1841–12 August 1914) was an engineer who developed the first submarine accepted by the U.S. Navy (though not the first American submarine, see American Civil War submarines, and the earlier Nautilus and Turtle) and the first ever Royal Navy submarine, the Holland 1.

Contents

[edit] Fenian involvement and emigration to the United States

He was one of four brothers who were born in Liscannor, County Clare, Ireland to an Irish speaking mother, Máire Ní Scannláin, and John Holland, and learnt English properly only when he attended the local English-speaking National School system and, from 1858, in the Christian Brothers in Ennistymon.[1] He and his brother, Mícheál, were both active in the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB), the precursor to the Irish Republican Army. Mícheál introduced the inventor to the revolutionary group. Holland and the Fenians conceived a plan to develop a small submarine that could be sealifted on a large merchant ship to an area near an unsuspecting British warship. The submarine would then be released from the bottom of the merchant vessel and attack the warship.

John Philip Holland was an Irish inventor who came to the United States in 1873. In 1875 his first submarine designs were submitted for consideration by the U.S. Navy, but turned down as unworkable. The Fenians, however, continued to fund Holland's research and development expenses at a level that allowed him to resign from his teaching post. In 1881 Fenian Ram was launched, but soon after, Holland and the Fenians parted company angrily, primarily due to issues of payment within the Fenian organization, and between the Fenians and Holland.[2]

Holland stands in the hatch of a submarine.
Holland stands in the hatch of a submarine.

Holland continued to improve his designs and worked on several experimental boats, including a farcical experience with the U.S. Navy, prior to his successful efforts with a privately built type, launched in 1898. This was the first submarine having power to run submerged for any considerable distance, and the first to combine electric motors (for dived use) and gasoline engines (for surfaced). She was purchased by the Navy after rigorous tests (commissioned 12 October 1900 as USS Holland), and six more of her type were ordered (as the Adder class). This basic design was also adopted by the Royal Navy (with Holland's input, as the Holland class submarine, including Holland 1) and Imperial Japanese Navy for their first submarines.

Holland also designed the Holland II and Holland III prototypes.

[edit] British involvement

In the early years of the 20th century Great Britain became interested in the submarines designed by Holland, and commissioned several including the Holland 1 for the Royal Navy.

[edit] Death

After spending 57 of his 74 years working with submersibles, John Philip Holland died in August 1914 in Newark, New Jersey.

[edit] See also

[edit] Patents

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://allaboutirish.com/library/people/holland.shtm; http://www.northstar.k12.ak.us/schools/ryn/projects/inventors/holland/holland.html; http://www.irishclans.com/articles/famirish/hollandjp.html; http://www.geocities.com/gwmccue/People/Holland_John.html Holland's background and childhood in Clare and Limerick
  2. ^ Davies, R. Nautilus: The Story of Man Under the Sea. Naval Institute Press. 1995. ISBN 1-55750-615-9.
  • John Philip Holland, Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed. 17 Vols. Gale Research, 1998

[edit] External links

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