Patch, John

nsis1Hall of Fame

 

Born:             ca 1780, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia

Died:              1861

Field:             Sea captain, inventor

 

 

Sea captain and considered to be the co-inventor of the marine screw propeller (this device may also have been developed concurrently in Europe), successfully testing a prototype in 1833. Discouraged from applying for a US patent, despite the advantage such a propeller gave over huge inefficient paddle-wheels, he never received recognition for his invention, although the Scientific American published a description of his device in 1844.

Bibliography

Marble, Allan E.: Nova Scotians at Home and Abroad.  Lancelot Press, Windsor, Nova Scotia, 1977.

Soucoup, D.: Maritime firsts.  Pottersfield Press, Lawrencetown Beach, Nova Scotia, 1996. 186 pp.