TIMBY, THEODORE RUGGLES Ameri can inventor, was born on April 5, 1819, in Dover, New York. His most noted invention was the revolving turret, which he first conceived in 1841. He first constructed a small model and dis played it in Washington. Later he built a steam-propelled model in Syracuse, N.Y. (1842). This he exhibited in the city hall, New York, where it was inspected by President Tyler and his cabinet. In 1843 he obtained a caveat from the patent office. During the Civil War, when the "Merrimac" had been constructed with heavy iron armour by the Confederate Government, it became evident that a new type of ship must be built to compete with it. At this juncture John Ericsson came forward with plans for a floating bat tery. These plans were presented to the naval department and promptly accepted. Immediately an organization known as the "Battery Associates' was formed to build armoured ships accord ing to Ericsson's plans. When Timby heard of this Government contract, he presented the caveat for his patent on the revolving turret, which was to be the main feature of Ericsson's floating battery. The Battery Associates, recognizing Timby's claim,
agreed to pay him $5,000 on each turret built. Soon afterwards, with Ericsson as engineer of the design and construction, the battleship "Monitor" was completed. When she met the "Merri mac" and gained her famous victory, Ericsson was given general recognition as the inventor of the revolving turret. No serious efforts were made to correct the misapprehension until Timby's death. From 1861 to 1891, Timby invented and patented, at home and abroad, a system of coast defences, such as the sighting and firing of heavy guns by electricity; the tower and shield; the cor don across a channel ; the planetary and subterranean systems, and numerous modifications of the turret system. He died in Brook lyn, N.Y., on Nov. 9, 1909.
See the Memorial to the 57th Congress for Recognition of T. R. Timby by the Patriotic League of the Revolution (1902), and the Memorial to T. R. Timby (i9i I) by the Timby Memorial trust.