Early years
John Philip Holland (1841-1914)
John Philip Holland was born in Co. Clare. He was the inventor of the modern submarine.
Courtesy of the National Science & Engineering Plaques CommitteeJohn Philip Holland (1841-1914)
Courtesy of the National Science & Engineering Plaques Committee
Courtesy of the National Science & Engineering Plaques Committee
John Philip Holland (1841-1914)
John Philip Holland was born in Co. Clare. He was the inventor of the modern submarine.
Courtesy of the National Science & Engineering Plaques CommitteeJohn Philip Holland, inventor of the modern submarine, was born on 24 February 1841 in Liscannor, County Clare. His family moved to Limerick in 1853.
Holland was a gifted student and he joined the Christian Brothers when he left school. He was a good teacher and as well as his interest in engineering, had a great interest in music.
Holland left the Christian Brothers in 1873 and travelled to Boston where his mother and brothers were living. He worked for a short while in an engineering company and then took up a position as a teacher in New Jersey.
The Submarines
John Philip Holland and Submarine
John Philip Holland was the inventor of the modern submarine. This photograph shows Holland with one of his inventions.
Courtesy of the National Science & Engineering Plaques CommitteeJohn Philip Holland and Submarine
Courtesy of the National Science & Engineering Plaques Committee
Courtesy of the National Science & Engineering Plaques Committee
John Philip Holland and Submarine
John Philip Holland was the inventor of the modern submarine. This photograph shows Holland with one of his inventions.
Courtesy of the National Science & Engineering Plaques CommitteeHolland had been drawing up plans for a submarine for years. He believed that submarines would play an important part in naval warfare.
Holland's first submarine was built in Paterson, New Jersey. It was launched in 1877, in the Passaic River. It made a number of successful dives.
One of Holland's brothers had become involved with the Fenian movement in America. The Fenians were impressed with his first submarine and gave Holland some money so that he could develop a better vessel which was suitable for war. He gave up his teaching job and devoted himself to his experiments. The next submarine he invented was named 'The Fenian Ram'. It worked but the Fenians decided not to fund him any more and so he severed connections with them.
In 1888, the United States Navy Department announced an open competition for a submarine design which Holland won but the machine was never built. He won a second competition in 1893, but again,the project was not successful.
Holland received private backing and continued to work on his designs. Finally, in 1900, the American Navy bought one of Holland's designs. He sold designs to the British Navy and also to Japan.
John Philip Holland died on August 12, 1914 and is buried in New Jersey. A plaque was erected in Liscannor in 1964 commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of his death. A street in the town was named 'Holland Street' in his honour.
Holland's first submarine was built in Paterson, New Jersey. It was launched in 1877, in the Passaic River. It made a number of successful dives.
One of Holland's brothers had become involved with the Fenian movement in America. The Fenians were impressed with his first submarine and gave Holland some money so that he could develop a better vessel which was suitable for war. He gave up his teaching job and devoted himself to his experiments. The next submarine he invented was named 'The Fenian Ram'. It worked but the Fenians decided not to fund him any more and so he severed connections with them.
In 1888, the United States Navy Department announced an open competition for a submarine design which Holland won but the machine was never built. He won a second competition in 1893, but again,the project was not successful.
Holland received private backing and continued to work on his designs. Finally, in 1900, the American Navy bought one of Holland's designs. He sold designs to the British Navy and also to Japan.
John Philip Holland died on August 12, 1914 and is buried in New Jersey. A plaque was erected in Liscannor in 1964 commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of his death. A street in the town was named 'Holland Street' in his honour.