Edmund Zalinski

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Edmund Louis Gray Zalinski, Żaliński (December 13, 1849 – March 11, 1909^[1]) was a Polish-born American soldier, military engineer and inventor.

He was born in Kórnik, Prussian Poland, and came with his parents to the United States in 1853, attended school at Seneca Falls, New York until 1861, and subsequently attended high school in Syracuse, New York until 1863. At the age of fifteen he volunteered in the United States Army, in which he served first as aide-de-camp on the staff of General Nelson A. Miles from October 1864 to February 1865. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 2nd New York Heavy Artillery in February 1865, having been recommended for the appointment by his superior officers for gallant and meritorious conduct at the Battle of Hatcher's Run, Virginia. After being commissioned he continued on General Miles's staff until after the surrender of General Robert E. Lee, participating in all of the engagements up to that date. He was mustered out of the volunteer service in September 1865, and was recommended for an appointment in the regular army, where he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the 5th United States Artillery, 23 February 1866, and by regular promotion became First Lieutenant in January 1867, and Captain on 9 December 1887.

From 1872 till 1876 he was on duty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as professor of military science. He was graduated at the Artillery School, Fort Monroe on 1 May 1880, and at the school of submarine mining, Willets Point, New York, in July of the same year. His name is widely known in connection with the development of the pneumatic dynamite torpedo-gun. He invented the electrical fuse and other devices for the practical application of the weapon, and also devised a method for the exact sight allowance to be made for deviation due to wind in the use of rifled artillery and small arms. His other inventions include an intrenching tool, a ramrod-bayonet, and a telescopic sight for artillery.

He helped John Philip Holland raise money for the development of one of his submarines, which was armed with one of Zalinski's pneumatic guns.

In 1889 and 1890 traveled in Europe to study military affairs. He did garrison duty at San Francisco, California in 1892, and retired from the service in 1894.

Zalinski died of pneumonia in Rochester, New York.^[1]