Sir william congreve 2nd baronet biography

​CONGREVE, Sir WILLIAM (1772–1828), the inventor of the Congreve rocket, was the eldest son of Sir William Congreve, lieutenant-general, colonel commandant of the royal artillery, comptroller of the Royal Laboratory at Woolwich, and superintendent of military machines, who was created a baronet on 7 Dec.

1812.

Sir william congreve 2nd baronet biography

He was born on 20 May 1772, and, after passing through the Royal Academy at Woolwich, entered the royal artillery ss a second lieutenant in 1791. He was at once attached to the Royal Laboratory at Woolwich, of which his father was comptroller, and after many experiments there he succeeded in inventing the celebrated Congreve rocket in 1805.

The war office and board of ordnance, influenced doubtless by his father's strong recommendations, determined to make use of this invention for military purposes, and highly applauded its inventor. The first trial of its efficacy was made at sea, in Lord Co