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Holland (JOHN P an Irish-American)

JOHN P., an Irish-American submarine inventor. He was born at Liseannor, Ireland, and received his preliminary education at the Limerick Christian Brothers' School. After private study he became a school teacher, remaining in that occupation for about ten years in Ireland and continuing in it in New Jersey, after he came to America. He had an engineering turn of mind, and the threatening possibilities of a war between the United States and Great Britain suggested to him the idea of an undersea boat that might aid in destroying the British navy. His incessant experiments in this direction resulted in plans for a submarine torpedo boat, which he laid before the U. S. HOLLAND government in 1875. His first vessel was of wood, and was only a partial success, but his boat, the "Holland," built at Elizabeth, N. J., proved successful and in 1898 was purchased by the government. Before he died his idea was developed, but little lucrative advantage came to him on that account. He died in 1914 at a time when his invention was about to win signal results in the European war.