Biographical entry Brennan, Louis (1852 - 1932)

Born
28 January 1852
Castlebar, Ireland
Died
17 January 1932
Montreaux, Switzerland
Occupation
Inventor and Mechanical engineer

Summary

Louis Brennan was a renowned mechanical engineer and inventor.

He patented the Brennan steerable torpedo in 1877, which was driven by contra-rotating screws.

He also patented a monorail design stabilised by a gyroscope which contributed to the development of a helicopter by the UK Air Ministry.

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Details

Chronology

1861
Life event - Brennan's family migrated to Melbourne, Australia
1874
Career event - Received Victorian Government grant to develop his concept of the steerable torpedo
1877
Career event - A patent is granted for the Brennan Torpedo
c. 1880
Career event - The Brennan Torpedo patent is purchased by the British War Office
1887 - 1896
Career position - Superintendent of the Brennan torpedo factory, Chatham, England
1892
Award - Created a Companion of the Order of Bath
1896 - 1907
Career position - Consulting engineer at the Brennan torpedo factory, Chatham, England
1903
Career event - Patented a gyroscopically-balanced monorail system
10 November 1909
Career event - Successfully demonstrated the gyroscopically-balanced monorail
1916 - 1919
Career position - Served in the Munitions Inventions Dept., UK Ministry of Munitions
1919 - 1926
Career position - Undertook aircraft research work for the UK Air Ministry at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough
1922
Career event - Foundation member of the National Academy of Ireland

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Published resources

Book Sections

  • Brown, D. K., 'The Brennan Torpedo', in A. Preston (ed.), Warship 2006, Conway Maritime Press Ltd., London, 2006, pp. 147-149. Details

Journal Articles

  • 'Brennan's Torpedo', The Engineer, vol. 54, 14 July 1882, p. 26. Details
  • 'The Brennan Torpedo', Engineering, vol. 39, 29 May 1885, p. 612. Details
  • 'The Brennan Torpedo', The Engineer, vol. 59, 29 May 1885, p. 422. Details
  • 'The Brennan torpedo', Engineering, vol. 44, 29 July 1887, p. 124. Details
  • 'Trial of the Brennan torpedo', The Engineer, vol. 68, 19 July 1889, p. 45. Details
  • 'The Brennan Torpedo', The Engineer, vol. 71, 17 April 1891, pp. 303-304. Details
  • R. N., 'Letters to the Editor: The Brennan torpedo and defence of our ports', The Engineer, vol. 71, 1 May 1891, p. 345. Details

Theses

  • Millar, R. N., 'Studies in the International Influence of Australian Technology 1850-1910', Thesis, 1993, 135-196 pp. Details

Online Resources

Sources used to compile this entry: H. M. Ross, rev. John Bosnell, 'Brennan, Louis Philip (1852-1932)', in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004, http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/32051.

Prepared by: Rebecca Rigby