Henry Shrapnel
Henry Shrapnel (born June 3, 1761 in Bradford-on-Avon , England , † March 13, 1842 in Southampton ) was a British officer and inventor of the shrapnel grenade named after him .
Life
Shrapnel was the youngest of nine children in a wealthy but not wealthy family. At the age of 18 he entered the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich as a cadet and received the rank of Second Lieutenant of the Royal Artillery . After his training as an artillery officer , Shrapnel was stationed for four years in St. John's on Newfoundland ; during this time he developed the concept of shrapnel .
After his return to Great Britain, he submitted his designs to a committee of the Board of Ordnance in 1784 , but without arousing interest. Shrapnel developed his invention, however, and in 1804 it was finally adopted by the Board of Ordnance and was first used in an attack on Dutch Guiana . The shrapnel contributed to the success of the operation and earned Shrapnel a promotion to lieutenant colonel .
During the Napoleonic Wars , the British Army used the new projectile often and with great success. However, Shrapnel himself received no further appreciation of his services, since the invention and its origins were kept secret by order of the Duke of Wellington .
In response to his complaint that he had spent a significant portion of his personal wealth developing the grenade, the Board of Ordnance let him know that there was no money in the budget for a reward. In 1814 he was awarded an annual pension of £ 1,200 , but was passed over in the pending promotion. A proposed elevation to baronet failed because King Wilhelm IV died before he could confirm it.
Henry Shrapnel died in his country estate, Peartree House, in 1842 and was buried in the family vault in the church of his birthplace.
Military career
- July 9, 1779 - Second Lieutenant
- December 3, 1781 - Lieutenant
- Aug. 15, 1793 - Captain
- Nov. 1, 1803 - Major
- Feb.10, 1804 - First Assistant Inspector of Artillery
- July 20, 1804 - Lieutenant Colonel
- June 4, 1813 - Colonel
- Aug. 12, 1819 - Major General
- July 29, 1825 - retired from active service
- January 10, 1827 - Lieutenant General
literature
- The Gentleman's Magazine , Vol. XVIII, 1842. Pickering, Nicols & Son, London.
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Shrapnel, Henry |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | British officer and inventor |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 3, 1761 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Bradford-on-Avon |
| DATE OF DEATH | March 13, 1842 |
| Place of death | Southampton |