Biographical entry Berdan, Hiram (1824 - 1893)

Born
6 September 1824
Phelps, Ontario County, New York, United States of America
Died
31 March 1893
United States of America
Occupation
Colonel and Inventor

Summary

Hiram Berdan was an American engineer, inventor and military officer.

He was a renowned 'sharp-shooter' Colonel during the American Civil War, in command of a notorious corps of elite riflemen.

Berdan resigned from his position in 1864 after being accused of cowardice and turned his attention to military technology. His innovations included a type of torpedo, a twin-screw submarine gunboat and a net-evading torpedo boat.

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Details

Chronology

1861 - 1864
Career position - Colonel in the Union Army

Published resources

Books

  • Marcot, R. M., Hiram Berdan Military Commander and Firearms Inventor, Northwood Heritage Press, Irvine, California, 1989, 308-315 pp. Details

Book Sections

  • 'Berdan, Hiram (1823-1893)', in Heidler, D. S. And Heidler J. T. (eds), Encyclopedia of the American Civil War, vol. 1, ABC-CLIO Inc., Santa Barbara, California, 2000, pp. 217-218. Details
  • Boatner, M. M., 'Berdan, Hiram (1823-1893)', in The Civil War Dictionary, David McKay Company Inc., New York, 1988, p. 61. Details
  • Sifakis, S., 'Berdan, Hiram (1823-1893)', in Who was Who in the Union, Facts on File Inc., New York, 1988. Details

Journal Articles

  • 'The Berdan Torpedo System', Engineering, vol. 45, 3 February 1888, pp. 125-126. Details

Newspaper Articles

Sources used to compile this entry: 'Berdan, Hiram (1823-1893)', in Heidler, D. S. And Heidler J. T. (eds), Encyclopedia of the American Civil War, vol. 1, ABC-CLIO Inc., Santa Barbara, California, 2000, pp. 217-218; Boatner, M. M., 'Berdan, Hiram (1823-1893)', in The Civil War Dictionary, David McKay Company Inc., New York, 1988, p. 61.

Prepared by: Rebecca Rigby