References
| The Father of the Modern Submarine | USA | VIEW SOURCE |
John Philip Holland, Jr. was born in a coastguard cottage in Liscannor, County Clare on the 24th February 1841. He was the son of John Philip Holland Snr. who was employed by the British Coastguard Service. He had three brothers of which he was the second eldest.
His mother Mary was an Irish speaker, so John and his four brothers learned English only after they were old enough to attend school at St Macreehy's National School, and later, the Christian Brothers school in Ennistymon from 1858. Holland then joined the Irish Christian Brothers in Limerick. He worked as a schoolteacher in Drogheda until 1872.
After initially training as a teacher of mathematics he found employment in various schools in Ireland until he choose to emigrate in 1873. Upon arriving in the USA he found employment with a local engineering firm but would also continue to teach mathematics during his time in Paterson, New Jersey.
He is best remembered as the engineer who developed the first submarine to be formally commissioned by the US Navy (USS Holland) and the first Royal Navy submarine, HMS Holland 1. Additionally a submarine he designed for use by the Fenian Brotherhood, against the British, the Holland Boat No. II, was launched in 1881. The role of the Fenians in its funding led the New York Sun to christen the vessel the Fenian Ram.
He died in August, 1914 and remains are interred at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Totowa, New Jersey.
John Phillip Holland is just one of over 320 characters featured at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 24th Feb 1841 | |
| Date of Death | 12th Aug 1914 | |
| Associated Building (s) | The Monastery ENNISTYMON | |
| Father (First Name/s and Surname) | John Philip Holland Snr. | |
| Occupation | Teacher, Engineer | |
