Irish Submarine Inventor: A Tribute to John P. Holland

The 100th anniversary of the death of John P. Holland, "Father of the modern Submarine", who died on August 12, 1914, will be recognized by the John P. Holland Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) at the New London Maritime Museum on August 17, 2014.

John P. Holland was born in County Clare, Ireland on February 24, 1841, the first year of the Irish Famine.   At 17 years he began studying to become a teacher with the Irish Christian Brothers Order.  During that time he became fascinated by the U.S. Civil War iron clad vessels.

In 1873, with his teacher training incomplete, he emigrated to America.  Soon after his arrival in America he was employed as a Mathematics teacher in a parochial school in Paterson, New Jersey.  Concurrently, he studied all he could about steel underwater boats.In 1875, Holland submitted his first submarine design to the U.S. Navy. His proposal was rejected as folly.  Holland approached the Irish-American "Clan na Gael"  Fenian organization for financial support.

The Fenians funded Holland to build two boats.  Holland boat #1 was built in 1873 and boat # 2, which was labeled "The Fenian Ram" by a newspaper reporter, was built in 1881.  The "Ram" design became the basic design for Holland's future boats.  New corporate funding was obtained and in 1893 the "Holland Torpedo Boat Company" was formed.  The Company launched boat #6 in 1897. In 1899, the Company moved it's operating base to New Suffolk, Long Island, NY, in Peconic Bay.  Also, that year Holland's company became a subsidiary of The Electric Boat Company; combined, they became the forerunners of General Dynamics-Electric Boat, Groton, CT.

On April 11, 1900, the U.S. Navy purchased Holland Boat #6, designated it the USS Holland (SS-1) and it became the Navy's first submarine.  An updated Holland design, the A Boat Class, became the first U.S. Navy submarine fleet.

Holland retired in 1907, and, according to his biographer, Dr, Richard K. Morris, he died "a very poor man" at 73 years of age.  He is buried in Totawa, New Jersey.  The Holland #1 and #2 boats are on display in the Paterson (N.J.) Museum.  Holland's memorabilia are on file in the Paterson Museum and in the Nautilus Submarine Museum in Groton, thanks largely to Dr. Morris.

On August 17 the New London AOH  will present a tribute to Holland's life and career in the New London Maritime Museum, at 2:00 PM.  The presentation is open to the public.  Admission: $12 per person; $8 for New London Main Street partners.  For information, contact: New London Maritime Museum, (203) 447-2501.

James J. Gallagher
John P. Holland Division
Ancient Order of Hibernians
New London County(860) 739-8216
www.AOHNewLondonCT.myclubcircle.com 
www.Facebook.com/AOHJPH
 -- 
Susan Tamulevich, director
Custom House Maritime Museum
New London Maritime Society
150 Bank Street, New London, CT 06320
860-447-2501, cell 203-444-2884 
www.nlmaritimesociety.org