John P. Holland, 1842
212. John P. Holland. John P. Holland was born in Ireland in 1842. He was a studious boy and became a teacher. The stories of Bushnell and of Fulton interested him and he studied carefully what they had done.
He came to America and settled in New Jersey. There he got a position as teacher in a parochial school. He continued his study of the undersea boat making many experiments and tests.
JOHN P. HOLLAND
From a photograph
Holland's first submarine became stuck in the mud. But he did not give up. His next boat he called the "Fenian Ram." It frightened people when it suddenly raised its head out of the water and as quickly disappeared.
In 1895, after a number of severe tests, Holland succeeded in interesting the United States Government in his plans. He built for it a submarine which he named the "Plunger."
A SUBMARINE