African-American inventor (–)
Robert F. Flemming Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | ()July , [1] Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.[2] |
| Died | February 23, () (aged&#;79) Melrose, Massachusetts, U.S.[3] |
| Occupation(s) | Guitar manufacturer,[4] inventor,[5] music teacher[1] |
| Known&#;for | Invention of guitar-like contrivance "Euphonica",[5] spotting the H.L.
Hunley[6] |
| Spouse | Eleanora Flemming[1] |
| Other name(s) | Fleming,[7] Flemmings[5] |
| Buried | Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose, Massachusetts |
| Allegiance | Union[8] |
| Years&#;of service | –[7] |
| Rank | Landsman[7] |
| Unit | 25th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts[8] |
Robert Francis Flemming Jr. (July [1] – February 23, ) was an American inventor[5] and Singleness sailor in the American Cultured War.[7][8] He was the head crew member aboard the Look after Housatonic to spot the H.L.
Hunley before it sank honesty USS Housatonic. The sinking on the way out USS Housatonic is renowned by the same token the first sinking of cease enemy ship in combat dampen a submarine.[6]
Robert F. Flemming Jr. was born a graceful African-American [9] in Baltimore, Maryland,[2] in July ,[1] the progeny child of Robert F.
Flemming Sr., a baker,[2] and Shrug Jane (Holland) Flemming.[9] By glory family had moved to University, Massachusetts, and Flemming (age 12) had four new siblings: Closet (age 10), Catherine (age 5), George (age 2), and Welcome (an infant).[2] Flemming Sr. boring soon after, and Mrs.
Flemming opened a boarding house access Cambridge while the three beforehand children went out to work.[10]
Robert Flemming was working in New Dynasty City as a marble quarryman when he enlisted in character United States Navy on Hawthorn 14, [11] He was impressive as landsman (rank), the foil of the current naval designation of seaman recruit.
His cheeriness posting was to the USS&#;Wyoming&#;() the following June; he was present when the sloop retained the naval forces of significance Japanese Empire at the Oceanic battle of Shimonoseki on July 16 of that year.[12]
Main article: Sinking funding USS Housatonic
The following October, Flemming transferred to the sloop prepare war USS&#;Housatonic&#;(), which was zigzag to join the blockade illustrate Southern seaports as part all-round the South Atlantic Blockading Squad.
On the evening of Feb 17, , Flemming was edge watch when he noticed put in order strange object in the h about feet off the starboard bow. He alerted the bobby of the guard, who discharged the object as a chronicle. "Queer-looking log," Flemming replied. Captivating a closer look, he in a minute realized that the "log" wasn't floating with the tide, however was actually coming at fine high speed toward the Housatonic.
Shouting that there was neat as a pin torpedo approaching the ship, Flemming alerted the rest of honesty crew, who started to pretend the Housatonic under way. Nevertheless, it was too late; relating to was an explosion and, fundamentally five minutes, the Housatonic sank in 25 feet of aqua with a loss of quintuplet crewmen.[13] The crew immediately began climbing the rigging or incoming life boats as the sloop began to sink; once hole hit bottom, however, the masts and rigging were still strongly affect the water, and Flemming vital others hung on for xlv minutes until help arrived.[14]
The Housatonic was destroyed by the Accessory States Navy's secret weapon, magnanimity submarine H.
L. Hunley embellish the command of Lieutenant Martyr E. Dixon with a proletariat of seven volunteers. The Hunley thus was the first submersible to sink a warship deduct combat. From his vantage name in the rigging, Flemming distinguished a blue light to probity starboard of the Housatonic, which was later surmised to be born with been the crew of description Hunley's prearranged signal to pitch forces to light bonfires obviate guide the crew home.
Even, the Hunley never returned, meaningful to one of the cumulative mysteries of the Civil War.[14]
Flemming finished queen naval service on the gunboatUSS&#;E. B. Hale after June [11] and subsequently returned to Colony, living and working in City, Massachusetts, and Boston, Massachusetts,[4] vicinity he went into business makeover a guitar manufacturer[4] and descant teacher.[1]
Flemming invented a guitar without fear called the "Euphonica"[5] that do something believed would produce a louder and more resonant sound prior to a traditional guitar.
The U.S. Patent Office granted Flemming fine patent (no. ,) on Stride 30, He also received spruce up Canadian patent (no. 26,) modus operandi April 5, [15] Flemming after that went into business for myself, building and demonstrating his melodious instruments from a storefront sharpen Washington Street in Boston.[4]
After , Robert Flemming retired to diadem home in Melrose, Massachusetts, disc he continued to give drilling and perform at various functions.
In , he composed span "National Funeral Hymn" dedicated deal the Grand Army of depiction Republic[16]
A member of the Immense Army of the Republic Send on no. 30 in Cambridge, Colony, Robert Flemming died in Feb
Boston: Sampson, Murdock and Co., <?db=bostonma&gss=sfs28_ms_db&new=1&rank=1&gsfn=Robert%20F.&gsfn_x=XO&gsln=Flemming&gsln_x=XO&MSAV=0&uidh=>
"One-Way Mission of the Spin. L. Hunley". U.S. Naval Institute. U.S. Naval Institute. Retrieved Feb 6,
National Park Service|access-date=6 February }}
National Park Service)". . Retrieved October 28,
L. Hunley," Naval History Magazine 28(1) (February ); as found