CONGREVE, SIR WILLIAM, Pt ( _ART. ,1772-1828), British artillerist and inventor, was born on May 20, 1772, being the eldest son of Lieut.-Gen. Sir William Congreve (d. 1814), comp troller of the royal laboratory at Woolwich, who was made a baronet in 1812. He was educated at Singlewell school, Kent, and (1788-93) at Trinity college, Cambridge. He is chiefly remem bered for his war rockets which, first fired at Boulogne in 18°6 in salvos from boats of special construction, were very effective; and in 18o7, 18°8 and 18°9 they were employed with excellent results on land and afloat at the siege of Copenhagen, in Lord Gambier's fight in the Basque Roads and in the Walcheren expe dition. In 181c) or 1811 Congreve became equerry to the prince regent, with whom he was a great favourite, and in 1811 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society; in the same year he at last received military rank, being gazetted lieut.-colonel in the Hanoverian artillery. In 1812 he became member of parliament for Gatton. In 1813, at the request of the Admiralty, he designed a new gun for frigates. That same year the new "Rocket Troop" of the Royal Artillery rendered excellent service at Leipzig. Con greve's rocket was replaced by Hale's, which had no stick.
In 1814, on the death of his father, Col. Congreve succeeded to the baronetcy and also to the office of comptroller of the royal laboratory. In 182o Sir William Congreve was elected member of parliament. He died at Toulouse on May 16, 1828.