Horace Lawson Hunley
Encyclopedia
Horace Lawson Hunley was a Confederate
marine engineer during the American Civil War
. He developed early hand-powered submarine
s, the most famous of which was posthumously named for him, H. L. Hunley
.
Though he was born in Tennessee, Hunley's parents (including mother Louisa Harden Lawson and father John Hunley) relocated to New Orleans. Hunley served in the Louisiana State Legislature and practiced law in New Orleans. In 1861, after the start of the American Civil War, Hunley joined James R. McClintock and Baxter Watson in building the submarine Pioneer
. In order to prevent her capture, she had to be scuttle
d when New Orleans fell to Union forces in early 1862.
After an unsuccessful attempt at building another submarine with McClintock and Watson, which ended in the vessel's sinking in Mobile Bay, Alabama, Hunley funded by himself a third submarine.
Five men from the first crew of H. L. Hunley
died during early tests when she was accidentally swamped by the wake of a passing ship through her open hatches; four managed to escape. A second crew was recruited in Charleston.
On October 15, 1863, though he was not part of the crew, Hunley decided to take command during a routine exercise. The vessel again sank, and this time all eight crew members were killed, including Hunley himself. The vessel was later raised and used again in the first successful sinking of an enemy vessel by a submarine in naval history.
Horace L. Hunley was buried with full military honors at Magnolia Cemetery
in Charleston, South Carolina on November 8, 1863.
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
marine engineer during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He developed early hand-powered submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s, the most famous of which was posthumously named for him, H. L. Hunley
H. L. Hunley (submarine)
H. L. Hunley was a submarine of the Confederate States of America that played a small part in the American Civil War, but a large role in the history of naval warfare. The Hunley demonstrated both the advantages and the dangers of undersea warfare...
.
Though he was born in Tennessee, Hunley's parents (including mother Louisa Harden Lawson and father John Hunley) relocated to New Orleans. Hunley served in the Louisiana State Legislature and practiced law in New Orleans. In 1861, after the start of the American Civil War, Hunley joined James R. McClintock and Baxter Watson in building the submarine Pioneer
Pioneer (submarine)
Pioneer was the first of three submarines privately developed and paid for by Horace Lawson Hunley, James McClintock and Baxter Watson.Hunley, McClintock and Watson built Pioneer in New Orleans, Louisiana...
. In order to prevent her capture, she had to be scuttle
Scuttling
Scuttling is the act of deliberately sinking a ship by allowing water to flow into the hull.This can be achieved in several ways—valves or hatches can be opened to the sea, or holes may be ripped into the hull with brute force or with explosives...
d when New Orleans fell to Union forces in early 1862.
After an unsuccessful attempt at building another submarine with McClintock and Watson, which ended in the vessel's sinking in Mobile Bay, Alabama, Hunley funded by himself a third submarine.
Five men from the first crew of H. L. Hunley
H. L. Hunley (submarine)
H. L. Hunley was a submarine of the Confederate States of America that played a small part in the American Civil War, but a large role in the history of naval warfare. The Hunley demonstrated both the advantages and the dangers of undersea warfare...
died during early tests when she was accidentally swamped by the wake of a passing ship through her open hatches; four managed to escape. A second crew was recruited in Charleston.
On October 15, 1863, though he was not part of the crew, Hunley decided to take command during a routine exercise. The vessel again sank, and this time all eight crew members were killed, including Hunley himself. The vessel was later raised and used again in the first successful sinking of an enemy vessel by a submarine in naval history.
Horace L. Hunley was buried with full military honors at Magnolia Cemetery
Magnolia Cemetery (Charleston, South Carolina)
Magnolia Cemetery is a historic cemetery in Charleston, South Carolina.It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a Historic District in 1978.-Notable interments:*William Aiken, Jr. , US Congressman, South Carolina Governor...
in Charleston, South Carolina on November 8, 1863.