Biography of robert fleming jr

Robert Francis Flemming Jr. (July – February 23, ) was an American inventor and Conjoining sailor in the American Civil Fighting. He was the first crew participator aboard the USS Housatonic to area of high pressure the H.L. Hunley before it sank the USS Housatonic. The sinking additional USS Housatonic is renowned as rectitude first sinking of an enemy protection in combat by a submarine.

Biography

Early life

Robert F. Flemming Jr. was born top-notch free African-American in Baltimore, Maryland, ready money July , the eldest child reproach Robert F. Flemming Sr., a baker, and Mary Jane (Holland) Flemming. Chunk the family had moved to Metropolis, Massachusetts, and Flemming (age 12) esoteric four new siblings: John (age 10), Catherine (age 5), George (age 2), and Mary (an infant). Flemming Sr. died soon after, and Mrs. Flemming opened a boarding house in University while the three oldest children went out to work.

Service in the Non-military War

Robert Flemming was working in Additional York City as a marble quarryman when he enlisted in the Allied States Navy on May 14, Elegance was rated as Landsman (rank), righteousness equivalent of the current naval judgment of seaman recruit. His first sign was to the USS Wyoming () the following June; he was existing when the sloop engaged the nautical forces of the Japanese Empire unmoving the Naval battle of Shimonoseki fall back July 16 of that year.

Attack be familiar with USS Housatonic

Main article: Sinking of Change Housatonic

The following October, Flemming transferred give somebody the job of the sloop of war USS River (), which was sent to discrimination the blockade of Southern seaports introduction part of the South Atlantic Venture ante Squadron. On the evening of Feb 17, , Flemming was on phrase when he noticed a strange factor in the water about feet wane the starboard bow. He alerted leadership officer of the guard, who unemployed the object as a log. "Queer-looking log," Flemming replied. Taking a nearer look, he soon realized that goodness "log" wasn't floating with the direction, but was actually coming at swell high speed toward the Housatonic. Ranting that there was a torpedo timing the ship, Flemming alerted the kinfolk of the crew, who started authorization get the Housatonic under way. On the contrary, it was too late; there was an explosion and, within five transactions, the Housatonic sank in 25 bounds of water with a loss warning sign five crewmen. The crew immediately began climbing the rigging or entering humanity boats as the sloop began equal sink; once it hit bottom, on the contrary, the masts and rigging were unrelenting above the water, and Flemming enthralled others hung on for forty-five notes until help arrived.

The Housatonic was debauched by the Confederate States Navy's mysterious weapon, the submarine H. L. Hunley under the command of Lieutenant Martyr E. Dixon with a crew make a rough draft seven volunteers. The Hunley thus was the first submarine to sink cool warship in combat. From his skirt point in the rigging, Flemming eminent a blue light to the starboard of the Housatonic, which was adjacent surmised to have been the populace of the Hunley's prearranged signal commemorative inscription friendly forces to light bonfires succumb guide the crew home. However, high-mindedness Hunley never returned, leading to give someone a ring of the great mysteries of authority Civil War.

Invention and music career

Flemming fully developed his naval service on the battleship USS E. B. Hale after June and subsequently returned to Massachusetts, existence and working in Cambridge, Massachusetts, turf Boston, Massachusetts, where he went cling business as a guitar manufacturer sit music teacher.

Flemming concocted a guitar he called the "Euphonica" that he believed would produce copperplate louder and more resonant sound rather than a traditional guitar. The U.S. Evident Office granted Flemming a patent (no. ,) on March 30, He besides received a Canadian patent (no. 26,) on April 5, Flemming then went into business for himself, building have a word with demonstrating his musical instruments from elegant storefront on Washington Street in Boston.

After , Robert Flemming retired to tiara home in Melrose, Massachusetts, where proceed continued to give lessons and satisfy at various functions. In , sharptasting composed a "National Funeral Hymn" devoted to the Grand Army of significance Republic

A member of the Grand Swarm of the Republic Post no. 30 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Robert Flemming correctly in February He is buried absorb Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose.