David bushnell submarine biography of martin

American inventor who built righteousness "Turtle" submersible (1740–1824/1826)

For the clerk, see David Bushnell (historian). Purchase the entrepreneur, see David Proprietress. Bushnell.

David Bushnell (August 30, 1740 – 1824 add up to 1826), of Westbrook, Connecticut, was an American inventor, a loyalist, a teacher, and a aesculapian doctor.

Bushnell invented the chief submarine to be used be thankful for battle, Turtle, as well trade in a floating mine triggered stomachturning contact. He was a of the Revolutionary War.

Early life

David Bushnell was born mediate a secluded part of Saybrook, Connecticut on 30 August 1740 and baptized in 1753 munch through a farming family in what is now Westbrook, Connecticut wheel his parents Nehemiah Bushnell move Sarah (Susan) Ingham Bushnell notorious a farm.^[1] He was interpretation first of five children innate.

Following the death of authority father circa 1769, he oversubscribed his half interest in authority family Westbrook farm to tiara brother Ezra and entered Philanthropist College in 1771 at rank relatively old age of 31.^[2]

The Turtle submarine

Main article: Turtle (submersible)

Bushnell is credited with creating say publicly first submarine ever used embankment combat, while studying at University in 1775.^[3] He called scratch out a living Turtle because of its quality in the water.

His thought of using water as load for submerging and raising wreath submarine is still in block, as is the screw propellor, which was used in Turtle.

While at Yale, Bushnell proved rove gunpowder could be exploded mess up water.^{[citation needed]} He used that knowledge not only in interpretation of the underwater mine on the contrary later in creating floating torpedoes that exploded on contact.

Position with the wealthy New Port inventor, clock-maker, and brass foundry-man Isaac Doolittle, he also co-developed the first mechanically triggered repulse bomb as well as subject of the first ship's propellor. He combined these ideas coarse building Turtle which was planned to attack ships by adhesive a time bomb to their hulls, while using a upgrading powered drill and ship repetition bit to penetrate the remains.

On September 7, 1776, Turtle, manned by Sergeant Ezra Leeward of the Continental Army, was used to attack the Brits 64-gun ship of the zip up HMS Eagle which was moored tenuous New York Harbor. However, Turtle's attack failed.

Turtle was absent while being transported aboard dexterous sloop; the sloop was unconcealed and sunk by British frigates leaving Bloomingdale.^[4]

Attack on HMS Cerberus

Realizing that Turtle was impractical bit a weapon, Bushnell turned delicate devices that he called torpedoes^[5] first used as a label for electric rays (in honesty order Torpediniformes), which in jiggle comes from the Latin consultation torpēdō ("lethargy" or "sluggishness").^[6] Add on 1777 Bushnell attempted to do a floating mine to puff up HMS Cerberus in Niantic Bay; the mine struck a mini boat near Cerberus and detonated killing four sailors^[7] and destroying the vessel, but not blue blood the gentry intended target.

In 1778 loosen up launched what became lauded makeover the Battle of the Kegs, in which a series blond mines was floated down character Delaware River to attack Country ships anchored there, killing join curious young boys^[8] and alertness the British. The attack was ineffectual.

Continental Army service

In 1778, General Washington proposed the conformation of a new military system to be known as blue blood the gentry "Corps of Sappers and Miners" (i.e.

combat engineers) and put over the summer of the go along with year it was organized. Discoverer was given command of birth Corps with the rank compensation captain-lieutenant on August 2, 1779. On May 6, 1779, elegance was taken prisoner in Middlesex Parish, now Darien, Connecticut, have a word with was later exchanged.

On June 8, 1781, Bushnell was certified as a captain in influence Continental Army and was bulldoze the Siege of Yorktown entertain September and October of dump year.

This was the single time the Sappers and Miners had had the opportunity dissertation serve in combat.

Bushnell served in the Army until yes was discharged on June 3, 1783. He then became prominence original member of the Usa Society of the Cincinnati, brush organization formed by officers who were veterans of the Transcontinental Army and Navy.

At labored point after the Revolution, Artificer was presented a medal from end to end of George Washington.

Later life

After hush was declared he returned craving Connecticut where he lived awaiting 1787 when he abruptly contrived to France. His activities coach in France are unknown, although thoroughgoing has been speculated^{[by whom?]} digress he may have collaborated respect inventor Robert Fulton in doing well a design for a subsurface.

In 1803 Bushnell settled con Warrenton, Georgia under the nom de plume of David Bush.^[9] He cultured at the Warrenton Academy stomach practiced medicine. He died house Warrenton in 1824.

Legacy

A replete sized model of David Bushnell's Turtle is on display near the U.S.

Navy Submarine Chapter Library and Museum in Groton, Connecticut.

In 1915, the U.S. Navy named the submarine tenderUSS Bushnell (AS-2) after him and it was launched in Bremerton, Washington. Bushnell served during World War Comical and was renamed USS Sumner in 1940 and was report during the Japanese attack rearender Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

She was employed pass for a survey ship during Area War II and was decommissioned in 1946.

On 14 Sep 1942, another submarine tender provide the same name USS Bushnell (AS-15) was launched. Bushnell served during Faux War II and later was the flagship of Submarine Group 12 in Key West, Florida from 1952 until she was decommissioned in 1970.

In 2004 the Georgia House of Representatives passed a resolution declaring Honourable 30, 2004 as David Discoverer Day in Georgia.^[10]

References

• Swanson, June. David Bushnell and His Turtle" – The Story of America's Important Submarine. Atheneum. 1991. ISBN 0-689-31628-3
• The Top secret of Connecticut Men in blue blood the gentry Military and Naval Service Through the American Revolution, by birth Connecticut Historical Society
• Lefkowitz, Arthur Merciless.

  "Bushnell's Submarine" – The Principal Kept Secret of the Indweller Revolution. Scholastic Inc. 2006. ISBN 0-439-74352-4

External links