American Turtle Submarine, The

Book excerpt: An effort of genius. -George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 1785 The world's first submarine was used during the American Revolution. While other men his age supported the country with muskets, Yale graduate David Bushnell sought the answer to one important question: how to defend America against the British Royal Navy. His answer was the American Turtle. Focusing on the vessel's most important mission, sinking Britain's flagship in New York harbor, this concise history follows the development of the invention from drawing table to open water and onwards.