who invented the submarine

No single inventor created the submarine. Early concepts date back centuries, but practical designs emerged in the 17th century, evolving into modern vessels by the late 19th. Credited pioneers include Cornelis Drebbel for the first navigable submarine and John Philip Holland for the modern military version.

Early Concepts

Submarine ideas appeared long before functional builds. Leonardo da Vinci sketched a primitive design around 1515, while William Bourne drafted a submersible boat in 1578 that could contract to dive. These laid theoretical groundwork but weren't constructed.

First Navigable Submarine

Cornelis Drebbel , a Dutch inventor, built the first operational submarine in 1620 under King James I of England. Propelled by oars and sealed with greased leather, it dove 12-15 feet in the River Thames, using tubes for air and chemicals like saltpeter for oxygen renewal. Drebbel iterated on three versions by 1624, marking a leap in underwater navigation.

Path to Modern Designs

19th-century innovators advanced the field amid naval rivalries. Robert Fulton’s 1800 Nautilus featured sails, screws, and compressed air for hours underwater. David Bushnell’s Revolutionary War Turtle (1776) attempted mine attacks but failed practically. John Philip Holland, an Irish immigrant, revolutionized it with the 1897 Holland VI —the first with gasoline surface engines and electric submerged motors—adopted as USS Holland (SS-1) in 1900.

Inventor| Year| Key Innovation| Limitations
---|---|---|---
Cornelis Drebbel 2| 1620| Oar-powered, Thames-tested dives| Shallow depth, manual propulsion
Robert Fulton 11| 1800| Dual propulsion, air system| Abandoned by French Navy
John P. Holland 3| 1900| Gasoline-electric hybrid| Basis for global fleets 14

Multiple Viewpoints

Historians debate "first" based on criteria: Drebbel for practicality, Holland as "father of the modern submarine" per Britannica and U.S. Navy records. Forums like Reddit highlight Holland's Irish roots and Fenian funding against Britain. Some note ancient claims, like Alexander the Great's diving bell (322 BCE), as precursors.

Recent Context

No major invention disputes today, but submarine tech trends: North Korea unveiled a nuclear-powered hull in December 2025 amid arms races. Discussions echo historical debates on Reddit, affirming Drebbel and Holland.

TL;DR: Cornelis Drebbel built the first working submarine in 1620; John Philip Holland invented the modern one in 1900.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.