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THE IRISH INVENTOR of the submarine is to be honoured at a ceremony later this month marking the 100th anniversary of his death, which occurs today.
John P Holland was a native of Liscannor, County Clare, born in 1841. His father, John Holland senior patrolled the headlands of County Clare as a rider with the British Coastguard Service.
The young Holland was a teacher in Ireland until 1872 when he immigrated to the USA, where he taught in Paterson, New Jersey, until 1879.
He drew up plans of submarines and in 1881, with funds from Irish associates, launched a small submarine called “The Fenian Ram”.
He was later awarded a contract to build a submarine for the US Navy.
In 1900, the Navy bought the Holland VI for $150,000, about half of its design cost, and later renamed it The USS Holland. The vessel could travel 800km on the surface of the sea and 40km submerged. One US newspaper described it as “Uncle Sam’s Devil of the Deep”. Other countries, including Great Britain, Japan and the Netherlands, purchased Holland’s submarine designs. He died on 12 August 1914, just months before a German submarine sank a British vessel at the start of World War I.
To honour his death, the Liscannor Development Committee will host a day of events honouring the life and achievements of the local inventor on Sunday 31st August as part of Heritage Week 2014.
For a full list of Heritage Week events, click here.
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In the british naval museums he’s listed as Irish American. Sad bstards.
BTW He went to CBS in Limerick.
He came to America in 1873, and became an American citizen.
That was just so they couldn’t fcuk him out because he was an republican.
Only 8 comments… Talk about below the radar!
Should it not be “emigrated” to America…
yes, it most certainly should.
The first prototypes were built by him for the Irish Republican Brotherhood/The Fenians in the USA. They were hoping to use it in the campaign to to reclaim Ireland from the British.
Indeed Angus.Until the New York harbour police confiscated it as a menace to shipping,as the Fenians were using it for booze cruising around New York harbour. Being intoxicated while in charge of a nautical vessel was illegal even back then.
brilliant…..
Note I believe Holland spent time as a Christian Brother before he became famous for his submarine invention. Maybe check with the Irish Christian Brother’s for verification.
michael
He went to CBS in limerick and CBS in Cork, not sure about whether he was a brother or not. Wouldn’t surprise me if he was a jesuit……………..
He definitely spent time in the North Monastery in Cork as a Christian Brother. There was pictures and drawings of his designs and of himself around the school.
paul
Was he a trainee CB or did he actually finish his studys as a CB
True he spent a small time teaching in the CBS Dundalk
He was a teacher in the North Monastery (maths) so I would presume he was finished training. Plus…it wasnt the first school he was at.
I read that the first submarine was invented during the American war of independence and didnt work that great ,or am I mistaken ,possibly by a Irishman or is this the same sub
same guy.
The war of independence was 100 years beforehand and it was a submersible not a submarine and it was an america who invented it.
It was called “The Turtle” and invented in 1775. Used against the British.
danielo
go back and do some history.
JOHN HOLLAND invented the submarine.
you’re thinking of darle holland……………….
@seekinguniversltruth if you had of read what I was replying to you would not have been so naive to think I was replying to the article about John Holland.
@danielo
lol……………sorry. have a drink on me €5. :-)
You mean the Confederate States Navy Hunley?An utter death trap that killed four sets of crews before it finally did manage to sink in the worlds first torpedo attack the USS Housatonic,from which it never returned either.
It was developed and built by three people Hunley,Mc Clintlock and Watson. Had nothing to do with Holland.
I believe he also spent some time in Dundalk
That is some tash!!!
Made it himself. Waterproofs the upper lip. Can stand up to 100 bar.
He taught in the CBS in dundalk for a time.
I found that he taught as a Christian Brother in Sexton St. CBS, also in Cork and Dundalk. He left the Christian Brothers on account of ill health and went to USA in 1873. Very interesting guy.
I remember researching subs at college nearly 2 decades ago, an early sub was used during the American Civil War so im afraid this article needs to be sunk back to the editing department.
CSN Hunley..
But it killed all its crews before being lost until mid or early 2000s when it was salvaged by a team led by Clive Cussler[He of raise the titanic fame].Its on display now in the USA and the crew were posthumsly buried with full military honours in Arlington.
What about the CBS in Ennistymon, close to where he was born, Liscannor, Co. Clare ??
He taught in the North Monastery in Cork briefly
I’m sorry to tell you but this guy did not invent the submarine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ictineo_I
Who cares “Fenian Ram ” alone is worthy of the history books !
Also taught in CBS Enniscorthy in Wexford for a while
Not to disrespect the man, but to say that he invented the submarine would suggest that they didn’t exist before he came along, although he was an inventor, he was an innovator in the field of submarine technology, one innovation being the development of a diesel powered submarine. The first submarine used for military purposes was built in the 1700s. There was also use of subs in the american civil war when Holland was in his early 20s.
His submarine development came in the late 1800s, and was used by the US military having had his initial proposals turned down 20 years before in the 1870s.
Questionable heading, not surprising from the Journal, who, as another commenter suggested on a different article that headings on the Journal are in place for ‘click bait’ .
Questionable heading, not to disrespect the man, but submarines were invented a long time before his innovation allowed a submersible vessel be powered with a Diesel engine. He was an inventor, just not of the submarine, he was, however, an innovator in submarine technology, and both are not necessarily the same thing. The heading would suggest that before he came along, there was no such thing as submarines.
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