The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1892-02-04
JOHN ERICSSON.
(RepOrt for Class r by X. McK.)


John Ericsson was born in Sweden on January
81, 1903. He was the second son of a miner, and
from the time he nine years old until his
death he devoted himself to mechanics and sci.
ence. At ten years of age his drawings attracted
the attention of the government inspector and
upon his recommendation he was sent to a gov.
eminent school. At twelve he cadet of en-.
gneers. and at fourteen he had the supervision
of division on the great state canal. At seven
teen he was appointed lieutenant of engineers,
and at twenty-four he was captain with the repu-
tation of being of the most skillful engineers
in all Europe. In 1928 he designed the flame en-.
CINE. and in the same year placed on exhibition
in England sea.sounding instrument, a tubular
steam-boiler. and hydrostatic weighing machine.
In 1929 he competed successfully with George
Stephenson and designed steam fire engine for
which he received medal In 1888 he construct
ed and patented the calorc engine, and in 1886
the screw-propeler. But as his ideas were re-
garded visionary by all. he built at his own
expense the ship John Ericsson" and, although
she developed good speed and the machinery
worked perfectly. he got nothing but rdcule for
his labor In 1889 he was induced to come to the
United States. He became friend of Commodore
StoctOn who also proved a strong advocate-for it
was through his influence that Ericsson got the
contract for building the princeton" She was
launched in 1S41, and proved a complete revolu-
ton in warships. For the next twenty years he
gave himself up to the study of naval.warfare;
and at the breaking out of the civil war was rec.
-ognized an authority on the subject. 1t was at
this period that he laid his plans and drawings OF
the Monitor before the secretary of the navy,
which were refused. His friends still persisting
he was recalled and asked to explain his theory
more fully. He was given a contract to have the
work done in one hundred days, but before the
contract was signed work had already began on
the Monitor" Before the time expired she was
launched, and on her way South arrived just one
day too late to save the "Cumberland." which
was sunk by the "Merrimac." OF the meeting be-
tween them nothing need be said, but had
Ericsson's advice been followed. regarding the
charge of powder always to be used, there is nc
doubt but what the "Merrimac' would have beer
sunk. this being also the opinion of her com
mander that of Lieut.. Worden of the "Moni
tor" Ericsson was kept busy for the next three
years by the government. and he gave all his de
signs and inventions to it trusting to congress te
do what right by him. The last years of his life
were devoted to experiments for the utilization
of solar heat, and he received patent en-
CINE for the same. He died in New York or
March 8. 1885, and his remains we're transferred
to Sweden by the American government.
What were the results of his work. OF him alone
can it be said that he twice changed completely
the construction of war vessels. When the
"wiomatomah" crossed the ocean in 1867 she wa,
acknowledged by the London Times to be the
most powerful vessel afioat, also that the United
States had the strongest navy in the world. The
Monitor alone saved millions of dollars, but the
influence Of the victory did not stop here-it ex
tended to Europe and countries who were at one
time on the verge of recognizing the confederacy
What did congress ever do towards rewardinl
himl Nothing! He never received any tn ing for il
designs and patents from the government which
was only too glad to use them. 1 do not believe
that republics are ungrateful. but cannot believe
either that Ericsson received that reward which
was his due.