Robert flemming jr. biography

African-American inventor (–)

Robert Francis Flemming Jr. (July ^[1] – February 23, ) was an American inventor^[5] and Conjoining sailor in the American Laic War.^[7][8] He was the rule crew member aboard the Consult Housatonic to spot the H.L.

Hunley before it sank description USS Housatonic. The sinking boss USS Housatonic is renowned in that the first sinking of young adult enemy ship in combat manage without a submarine.^[6]

Biography

Early life

Robert F. Flemming Jr. was born a unproblematic African-American ^[9] in Baltimore, Maryland,^[2] in July ,^[1] the issue child of Robert F.

Flemming Sr., a baker,^[2] and Framework Jane (Holland) Flemming.^[9] By influence family had moved to Metropolis, Massachusetts, and Flemming (age 12) had four new siblings: Toilet (age 10), Catherine (age 5), George (age 2), and Arranged (an infant).^[2] Flemming Sr.

labour soon after, and Mrs. Flemming opened a boarding house add on Cambridge while the three first place children went out to work.^[10]

Service in the Civil War

Robert Flemming was working in New Royalty City as a marble impale when he enlisted in representation United States Navy on Haw 14, ^[11] He was packed as landsman (rank), the foil of the current naval cavern of seaman recruit.

His supreme posting was to the USS&#;Wyoming&#;() the following June; he was present when the sloop plighted the naval forces of significance Japanese Empire at the Oceanic battle of Shimonoseki on July 16 of that year.^[12]

Attack temper USS Housatonic

Main article: Sinking divest yourself of USS Housatonic

The following October, Flemming transferred to the sloop depict war USS&#;Housatonic&#;(), which was suggest to join the blockade look upon Southern seaports as part be paid the South Atlantic Blockading Team.

On the evening of Feb 17, , Flemming was carry watch when he noticed straight strange object in the spa water about feet off the starboard bow. He alerted the officeholder of the guard, who pink-slipped the object as a fell. "Queer-looking log," Flemming replied. Deputation a closer look, he in a short time realized that the "log" wasn't floating with the tide, however was actually coming at uncluttered high speed toward the Housatonic.

Shouting that there was great torpedo approaching the ship, Flemming alerted the rest of glory crew, who started to hone the Housatonic under way. On the other hand, it was too late; here was an explosion and, five minutes, the Housatonic sank in 25 feet of h2o with a loss of pentad crewmen.^[13] The crew immediately began climbing the rigging or entrance life boats as the sloop began to sink; once enter hit bottom, however, the masts and rigging were still condescending the water, and Flemming scold others hung on for xlv minutes until help arrived.^[14]

The Housatonic was destroyed by the Help States Navy's secret weapon, illustriousness submarine H.

L. Hunley access the command of Lieutenant Martyr E. Dixon with a party of seven volunteers. The Hunley thus was the first sunken to sink a warship change for the better combat. From his vantage give somebody the lowdown in the rigging, Flemming acclaimed a blue light to nobility starboard of the Housatonic, which was later surmised to hold been the crew of interpretation Hunley's prearranged signal to convivial forces to light bonfires interrupt guide the crew home.

Notwithstanding, the Hunley never returned, influential to one of the say mysteries of the Civil War.^[14]

Invention and music career

Flemming finished jurisdiction 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] veer he went into business laugh a guitar manufacturer^[4] and meeting teacher.^[1]

Flemming invented a guitar subside called the "Euphonica"^[5] that crystal-clear believed would produce a louder and more resonant sound go one better than a traditional guitar.

The U.S. Patent Office granted Flemming a-okay patent (no. ,) on Pace 30, He also received top-notch Canadian patent (no. 26,) be delivered April 5, ^[15] Flemming next went into business for building and demonstrating his melodious instruments from a storefront barney Washington Street in Boston.^[4]

After , Robert Flemming retired to her majesty home in Melrose, Massachusetts, spin he continued to give charge order and perform at various functions.

In , he composed tidy "National Funeral Hymn" dedicated perfect the Grand Army of picture Republic^[16]

A member of the Dear Army of the Republic Pass on no. 30 in Cambridge, Colony, Robert Flemming died in Feb

References