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JOHN PHILIP HOLLAND: SUBMARINE INVENTOR

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John Philip Holland is the Clare born inventor of the modern submarine.  A self proclaimed pacifist, he created one of the most formidable weapons of war.  An Irish patriot, whose first working submarines were funded by Irish revolutionaries in the US, he later developed the first US and British submarine fleets.  A self taught genius of the late 19th century, his remarkable legacy is neglected and forgotten.

Contributors:

 Dr. Terry Golway (historian, biographer of John Devoy)

Bruce Balistrieiri (curator, Paterson Museum, New Jersey – repository of the John Philip Holland archive)

Gary McCue (Naval architect and engineer, Holland historian)

Eilís De Bláca* (Teacher and Liscannor native)

Dr. Dónall De Bláca* (Christian brother, author and historian)

Stephen Finnigan: Curator, US Navy Submarine Museum, Groton, PA

 

John Holland was born in Liscannor in Co. Clare in 1841 into very modest circumstances.  Holland’s father was a coastguard, originally from Cork, and Holland’s ambition was to follow his father, and live a life at sea, but because of poor eye-sight, he was unable to pursue this as a career.  Holland spoke in later life of his early interest in the sea, and his fascination with sea creatures like the porpoise and sea birds, and the manner in which they could move under and over water with ease.

Holland received a Christian Brothers education, the only one available to poor children at that time.  He later became a teaching Brother with the CBS himself, and spent time teaching in Cork, Armagh, Drogheda and Dundalk.  Teaching allowed Holland to build on his interest in science and technology, particularly when working alongside Br. Dominick Burke in the CBS in Cork City – a scientist with an international reputation, and the founder of vocational teaching in Ireland.

Holland first thought of submarines, and underwater travel, when he read a newspaper account of an American sea battle featuring two iron clad ships in 1862.  Holland realised that the more powerful navies of the world could only be countered in the future by a vessel that could attack from underwater.  He felt that a vessel of this sort could make naval warfare redundant. Holland’s first submarine designs were jotted down in the late 1860s, pre-dating Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (written in 1870) – in other words, when underwater travel was a fantasy, or considered as science fiction.

Holland resigned as a teaching brother, as his superiors were unsure if his character was suited to teaching – he was well loved by his students, and was a very talented maths and music teacher, but didn’t like the discipline associated with teaching at that time, and often suffered from a stress related illness.  Holland emigrated to the US in 1872.   Shortly after arriving, he slipped and fell, and was laid up with a broken leg and concussion.  He returned to his submarine plans, and felt that a serious effort should be made to properly test them.

In 1875, Holland had an opportunity to present his plans to the US Navy, but they dismissed them as unrealistic. Holland’s brother Michael was involved with the Irish Republican Brotherhood, a revolutionary organisation with a large membership in the US.  Michael introduced Holland to Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa, and to John Devoy, and was invited to present his plans to the IRB.

The IRB agreed to fund the development of Holland’s first submarine.  Holland was now based in Paterson, New Jersey, which was the heart of industrial America, and had plenty of engineering and metalworking companies that could develop Holland’s prototype.

 

For further information contact:

domochain@hotmail.com