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John Philip Holland

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

John Philip Holland (Irish: Seán Pilib Ó Maolchalann) (29 February, 1840 –12 August, 1914[1]) was an engineer who developed the first submarine to be formally commissioned 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.

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 learned English properly only when he attended the local English-speaking National School system and, from 1858, in the Christian Brothers in Ennistymon.[2] 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.[3]

Holland stands in the hatch of a submarine.

Holland continued to improve his designs and worked on several experimental boats, prior to his successful efforts with a privately built type, launched on 17 May 1897. This was the first submarine having power to run submerged for any considerable distance, and the first to combine electric motors (for submerged use) and gasoline engines (for traveling on the surface). She was purchased by the Navy (on 11 April 1900) after rigorous tests and was (commissioned 12 October, 1900 as USS Holland), and six more of her type were ordered (as the Adder class submarines) built under the direct supervision of Arthur L. Busch, a recent British emigre to the United States and head of construction at Elizabeth, New Jersey's Crescent Shipyard. This is where the revolutionary Holland VI/USS Holland was developed - as Busch worked in concert with Mr. Holland in his goals to perfect the submersible - beginning with the submarine boat, Holland VI, laid down at the end of 1896 at Lewis Nixon's yard. This pioneering submarine became the United States Navy's first fully commissioned submarine and it was known as USS Holland (SS-1). [The success of Holland's submarines led to the foundations of both The Electric Boat Company and the company that is now known as General Dynamics Corporation].

The work on these first fleet of submarines was accomplished at Lewis Nixon's Crescent Shipyard located in Elizabeth, New Jersey [USA]. This basic design (of the Holland VI) was also adopted by (several other "advanced" nations) to include the Royal Navy (with Holland's input, as the Holland class submarine, including Holland 1) and Imperial Japanese Navy for their first [5] submarines - although these submarines were at least 10 feet longer at (about 63' 10"). The Japanese subs were initially assembled at the Fore-River Ship and Engine Company in Quincy, MA. by Arthur L. Busch while under the Electric Boat name and banner. Other "advanced" nations rapidly adopted these designs as well - as Holland was able to obtain patents for his inventions in other countries during this time. [John Philip Holland made some very encouraging remarks about Busch's shipbuilding skills and his proficiency in the field of naval architecture during the development of America's first fleet of submarines - and the founding of the Electric Boat Company - which grew out from under these events. These letters can be found housed at the United States Navy's official submarine museum, The Nautilus Memorial Submarine Force Library and Museum, located in New London, Connecticut].

Holland also designed the Holland II and Holland III prototypes.

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.

Death

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

See also

Patents

References

  1. ^ John Philip Holland article, Encyclopaedia Britannica
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ 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.
  • Who Built Those Subs? Naval History Magazine, Oct. 1998 125th Anniversary issue, pp.31-34. Richard Knowles Morris PhD. Published by the USNI Annapolis, MD.
  • International Directory of Company Histories, Volume 86 under General Dynamics/Electric Boat Corporation, July, 2007. Pages 136-139. Published by St. James Press/Thomposon Gale Group.
  • The Defender, The Story of General Dynamics, by Roger Franklin. Published by Harper & Row 1986.
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