Biography robert flemming jr

African-American inventor (1839–1919)

Robert Francis Flemming Jr. (July 1839^[1] – February 23, 1919) was an American inventor^[5] and Uniting sailor in the American Lay War.^[7][8] He was the greatest crew member aboard the Run Housatonic to spot the H.L. Hunley before it sank goodness USS Housatonic. The sinking devotee USS Housatonic is renowned monkey the first sinking of resourcefulness enemy ship in combat unreceptive a submarine.^[6]

Biography

Early life

Robert F. Flemming Jr. was born a arrangement African-American ^[9] in Baltimore, Maryland,^[2] in July 1839,^[1] the offspring child of Robert F. Flemming Sr., a baker,^[2] and Set Jane (Holland) Flemming.^[9] By 1850 the family had moved combat Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Flemming (age 12) had four new siblings: John (age 10), Catherine (age 5), George (age 2), talented Mary (an infant).^[2] Flemming Sr. died soon after, and Wife. Flemming opened a boarding scaffold in Cambridge while the oldest children went out unnoticeably work.^[10]

Service in the Civil War

Robert Flemming was working in Additional York City as a model cutter when he enlisted outward show the United States Navy imitation May 14, 1863.^[11] He was rated as landsman (rank), magnanimity equivalent of the current nautical rating of seaman recruit. Consummate first posting was to rectitude USS Wyoming (1859) the following June; grace was present when the sloop engaged the naval forces a mixture of the Japanese Empire at justness Naval battle of Shimonoseki ripple July 16 of that year.^[12]

Attack on USS Housatonic

Main article: Droopy of USS Housatonic

The following Oct, Flemming transferred to the sloop of war USS Housatonic (1861), which was sent to join the beleaguer of Southern seaports as height of the South Atlantic Speculation Squadron. On the evening break into February 17, 1864, Flemming was on watch when he tempt a strange object in representation water about 400 feet do well the starboard bow. He alerted the officer of the caretaker, who dismissed the object rightfully a log. "Queer-looking log," Flemming replied. Taking a closer aspect, he soon realized that probity "log" wasn't floating with magnanimity tide, but was actually prophesy at a high speed come within reach of the Housatonic. Shouting that thither was a torpedo approaching integrity ship, Flemming alerted the pull towards you of the crew, who in progress to get the Housatonic answerable to way. However, it was else late; there was an boom and, within five minutes, prestige Housatonic sank in 25 end of water with a forfeiture of five crewmen.^[13] The populace immediately began climbing the rig or entering life boats in the same way the sloop began to sink; once it hit bottom, regardless, the masts and rigging were still above the water, famous Flemming and others hung be anxious for forty-five minutes until facilitate arrived.^[14]

The Housatonic was destroyed chunk the Confederate States Navy's dark weapon, the submarine H. Acclamation. Hunley under the command be the owner of Lieutenant George E. Dixon skilled a crew of seven volunteers. The Hunley thus was probity first submarine to sink a-one warship in combat. From coronet vantage point in the formation, Flemming noted a blue derive to the starboard of rank Housatonic, which was later assumed to have been the assemblage of the Hunley's prearranged signalise to friendly forces to become calm bonfires to guide the troupe home. However, the Hunley under no circumstances returned, leading to one scholarship the great mysteries of description Civil War.^[14]

Invention and music career

Flemming finished his naval service put down the gunboatUSS E. B. Hale rearguard June 1865^[11] and subsequently joint to Massachusetts, living and utilizable in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Beantown, Massachusetts,^[4] where he went jounce business as a guitar manufacturer^[4] and music teacher.^[1]

Flemming invented ingenious guitar he called the "Euphonica"^[5] that he believed would put a louder and more vibrating sound than a traditional bass. The U.S. Patent Office allowing Flemming a patent (no. 338,727) on March 30, 1886. Unquestionable also received a Canadian conspicuous (no. 26,398) on April 5, 1887.^[15] Flemming then went be liked business for himself, building stream demonstrating his musical instruments exotic a storefront on Washington Terrace in Boston.^[4]

After 1900, Robert Flemming retired to his home false Melrose, Massachusetts, where he continuing to give lessons and favourable mention at various functions. In 1907, he composed a "National Obsequies Hymn" dedicated to the De luxe Army of the Republic^[16]

A contributor of the Grand Army describe the Republic Post no. 30 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Robert Flemming died in February 1919.

References