George Collin Baker (December 21, 1844 - March 23, 1894) was an American inventor and

submarine A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...

pioneer. In 1888, the US government announced a competition for submarine designs. Plans were submitted by Baker,

John Philip Holland John Philip Holland ( ga, Seán Pilib Ó hUallacháin/Ó Maolchalann) (24 February 184112 August 1914) was an Irish engineer who developed the first submarine to be formally commissioned by the US Navy, and the first Royal Navy submarine, ''Hol ...

Thorsten Nordenfelt Thorsten Nordenfelt (1 March 1842 – 8 February 1920), was a Swedish inventor and industrialist. Career Nordenfelt was born in Örby outside Kinna, Sweden, the son of a colonel. The surname was and is often spelled Nordenfeldt, though Thorsten ...

and Josiah Tuck. Holland won the competition, but due to irregularities the contract was not awarded. Baker nevertheless built his submarine prototype and it was tested in the Rouge River. A new competition was announced in 1893, resulting in rivalry between Holland and Baker, the two inventors with usable vessels. Unfortunately, Baker developed

appendicitis Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. Symptoms commonly include right lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite. However, approximately 40% of people do not have these typical symptoms. Severe complications of a rup ...

and died in March 1894. The contract ended up awarded to the

Holland Torpedo Boat Company General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) is a subsidiary of General Dynamics Corporation. It has been the primary builder of submarines for the United States Navy for more than 100 years. The company's main facilities are a shipyard in Groton, C ...

in 1895. The collaboration between Holland and the navy ultimately led to the

USS Holland (SS-1) USS ''Holland'' (SS-1) was the United States Navy's first modern commissioned submarine, although not the first military submarine of the United States, which was the 1775 submersible ''Turtle''. The boat was originally laid down as ''Holland ...

, the first modern submarine commissioned in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

References

External links

* * for "submarine torpedo boat" (1894)
The Baker Boat
19th-century American inventors Submarine pioneers 1844 births 1894 deaths {{US-inventor-stub