HOLLAND, JOHN PHILIP (1841-1914), American in ventor, was born at Liscannor, County Clare, Ireland, in 1841. He was educated at Limerick, and was a schoolmaster in Ireland prior to migrating to the United States. He was teaching in New Jersey when the Civil War broke out and the conflict between the "Merrimac" and the "Monitor" suggested to him the idea of a submarine. He became a pioneer in this field and one of the most successful designers of submarine craft. The first boat, built in 1875, was a failure and it was not until his ninth attempt in 1898 that he produced a serviceable submarine. This boat was com missioned for the U.S. navy.
His great achievement was the furnishing of the submarine with two methods of propulsion, a 5o h.p. gasolene engine to be used when on the surface and electric storage batteries when sub merged. The British admiralty acquired all the patents for Great Britain, although his avowed purpose had been to invent a craft that would overcome the British naval supremacy. Holland then turned his attention to the construction of submarines for sea going purposes, and all his subsequent boats were built for the U.S. navy. He died at Newark (N.J.) on Aug. 12, 1914.