John Ericsson born July 31, 1803

USS ALASKA

Captain
Joined
Mar 16, 2016
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http://navsource.org/archives/01/monitors/monitor3o.jpg

John Ericsson
Born July 31, 1803 / Died March 8, 1889

Swedish born inventor John Ericsson came to America in 1839. He is best known for his work with USS Monitor. However, he had many other interests. Locomotives, propellers, engines, built-up guns, torpedoes, condensers, and unfortunately for his reputation - USS Princeton. Never one to be shy with his thoughts, cantankerous was one word used to describe him. He always held a grudge against the USN after the 1844 Peacemaker accident and Capt. Robert Stockton's slander of him. Discovering a friendship with Cornelius H. DeLamater, Ericsson's intellect found support and was allowed to blossom.

John Ericsson died on the anniversary of the Battle of Hampton Roads.

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http://navsource.org/archives/01/monitors/monitor3y.jpg

Cheers,
USS ALASKA
 
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http://navsource.org/archives/01/monitors/monitor3o.jpg

John Ericsson
Born July 31, 1803 / Died March 8, 1889

Swedish born inventor John Ericsson came to America in 1839. He is best known for his work with USS Monitor. However, he had many other interests. Locomotives, propellers, engines, built-up guns, torpedoes, condensers, and unfortunately for his reputation - USS Princeton. Never one to be shy with his thoughts, cantankerous was one word used to describe him. He always held a grudge against the USN after the 1844 Peacemaker accident and Capt. Robert Stockton's slander of him. Discovering a friendship with Cornelius H. DeLamater, Ericsson's intellect found support and was allowed to blossom.

John Ericsson died on the anniversary of the Battle of Hampton Roads.

View attachment 318610http://navsource.org/archives/01/monitors/monitor3y.jpg

Cheers,
USS ALASKA
John Ericsson monument in Stockholm

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A few years ago I wrote a biographical summary of John Ericsson who came from Värmland in Sweden. His father was a mine operator who had been ruined by Sweden's various wars. Young Ericsson went first to London where he married but separated from his wife and, to our benefit, he continued on to the United States. . He was a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences. In 1868 he received an honorary doctorate from Lund University. Although he died in NYC (1889), he is buried in his home village of Filipstad.

For those who aren't going to be going to Sweden, there is a statue to him in Battery Park, NYC.
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