Long before modern submarines revolutionized naval warfare, a Dutch inventor named Cornelis Drebbel created something remarkable in the waters of London. Cornelis Drebbel built the first navigable submarine in 1620 while working for the English Royal Navy, successfully demonstrating underwater travel centuries before submarines became common military vessels.
- Cornelis Drebbel: The Dutch Inventor Behind the First Submarine
- Design and Construction of the 1620 Submarine
- Testing and Demonstrations on the River Thames
- Innovations in Submarine Technology and Air Supply
- Legacy and Influence on Future Submarine Development
- Cornelis Drebbel’s Other Notable Inventions and Contributions
- Frequently Asked Questions
You might wonder how someone in the 1600s managed to build a working underwater vessel without modern technology. Drebbel’s submarine was a wooden rowing boat covered in greased leather that could carry passengers beneath the Thames River. His invention wasn’t just a theoretical design—he actually tested it with real people on board, including King James I himself.
The story of Drebbel’s submarine demonstrations reveals an inventor far ahead of his time. You’ll discover how he solved problems like air supply and waterproofing that wouldn’t be fully addressed again for hundreds of years. His work laid the groundwork for all submarine development that followed, even though his designs were mostly forgotten until much later.
Cornelis Drebbel: The Dutch Inventor Behind the First Submarine
Cornelis Jacobszoon Drebbel was born in 1572 in Alkmaar, Netherlands, and became one of the most innovative engineers of his time. His work spanned optics, chemistry, and engineering, earning him royal patronage across Europe.
Early Life and Education
Cornelis Drebbel started his education at the Latin school in Alkmaar before attending the Academy in Haarlem around 1587. There he studied under notable teachers including Hendrick Goltzius, who was an engraver, painter, and alchemist.
Drebbel became a skilled engraver on copperplate and developed a strong interest in alchemy. In 1595, he married Sophia Jansdochter Goltzius, the younger sister of his teacher Hendrick.
The Dutch inventor initially worked as a painter, engraver, and cartographer. By 1598, he had already obtained a patent for a water-supply system and a type of perpetual clockwork. In 1600, he built a fountain in Middelburg, where he likely learned lens-grinding techniques that would later prove valuable for his optical work.
Major Scientific Achievements
You’ll find that Drebbel’s inventions covered an impressive range of fields. He created what many consider the first compound microscope around 1621, using two convex lenses. Dutch Ambassador Willem Boreel reported seeing this device in Drebbel’s possession in 1619.
His most famous invention was the first navigable submarine, built in 1620. Between 1620 and 1624, he constructed three versions, each larger than the last. The final model had six oars and could carry 16 passengers underwater for three hours.
Drebbel also invented a chicken incubator with a mercury thermostat that kept a constant temperature. He developed working thermometers, air conditioning systems, and accidentally discovered a bright red dye process. His perpetual motion machine amazed European courts, though it actually ran on atmospheric pressure changes rather than true perpetual motion.
Patronage and International Influence
Around 1604, Drebbel moved to England at the invitation of King James I. He lived at Eltham Palace and worked on court productions while demonstrating his inventions to the royal family.
His fame spread throughout European courts. In October 1610, he moved to Prague to work for Roman-German Emperor Rudolf II. When Rudolf lost power in 1611, Drebbel was imprisoned for about a year before returning to London in 1613.
King James I became so impressed with the submarine demonstration that he took a test dive beneath the Thames himself, becoming the first monarch to travel underwater. In 1619, Drebbel returned to Prague to tutor the sons of Emperor Ferdinand II. Despite his innovations and royal connections, he died in near-poverty in London on November 7, 1633, while running an ale house.
Design and Construction of the 1620 Submarine
Cornelis Drebbel’s submarine represented a major leap forward from earlier diving bell concepts, featuring a fully enclosed wooden hull wrapped in greased leather with a propulsion system powered by oars. The vessel went through three iterations, each improving on the last in size and capability.
Technical Specifications and Features
The third and final prototype could carry 16 people total, with 12 serving as oarsmen. Each rower operated a single oar that extended through the hull sides using waterproofed leather seals to prevent water from entering the vessel.
The submarine could reach depths of 12 to 15 feet below the surface. It completed a remarkable three-hour journey from Westminster to Greenwich and back while submerged in the Thames River. A watertight hatch in the middle allowed crew members to enter and exit when surfaced.
The vessel included a rudder for steering and four oars for propulsion. Air supply came through snorkel-like tubes held above the water’s surface by flotation devices, allowing the crew to breathe during extended underwater periods. Some accounts suggest Drebbel may have developed a chemical method to generate fresh air by heating saltpeter to produce oxygen.
Materials and Engineering Innovations
The first navigable submarine used a modified rowboat as its base structure. Workers covered the entire vessel in greased leather to create a waterproof barrier against the river water.
Key materials included:
- Wooden hull (likely a modified rowboat)
- Greased leather covering
- Pigskin bladders for ballast control
- Rope for securing the ballast system
- Waterproofed leather seals for oar penetrations
Large pigskin bladders sat under the rowers’ seats, connected by pipes to the outside water. You could control the submarine’s depth by tying off the empty bladders with rope to surface or untying them to allow water in for diving. The crew squeezed the bladders flat to force out water when they wanted to rise back to the surface.
Development of Multiple Prototypes
Drebbel constructed three submarines between 1620 and 1624 under the patronage of King James I of England. Each version grew larger and more capable than the previous one. The first submarine served as a proof of concept for underwater travel.
The second prototype incorporated lessons learned from initial trials. The third and final version represented the pinnacle of Drebbel’s 15-year development period. Despite regular trials in the Thames River demonstrating the vessel’s capabilities, the British Navy never adopted the design for military use.
Testing and Demonstrations on the River Thames
Cornelis Drebbel conducted his submarine trials on the River Thames in London during the early 1620s, where the vessels demonstrated their ability to submerge and resurface while carrying passengers. King James I himself participated in at least one underwater journey, making him the first monarch to ride in a submarine.
Royal and Public Audiences
You would have witnessed an extraordinary scene on the Thames as thousands of spectators gathered to watch Drebbel’s submarine demonstrations. King James I attended these trials and took the remarkable step of boarding the vessel himself for an underwater journey.
The documented 1624 demonstration showed the submarine traveling from Westminster to Greenwich, proving the vessel could navigate substantial distances while submerged. The Royal Navy tested all three of Drebbel’s submarines, evaluating their potential military applications. The king’s willingness to risk his own safety aboard this untested technology demonstrated both the confidence in Drebbel’s engineering and the monarch’s curiosity about scientific innovation.
Performance and Operations Underwater
During testing, one submarine remained submerged for three hours at a depth of about 15 feet. The vessels used a simple but effective system where bladders filled with water allowed the submarine to descend, and squeezing the water out brought it back to the surface.
The submarines featured oars that stuck through watertight seals, allowing crew members to propel the vessel while underwater. Snorkel-like tubes brought fresh air into the cabin during operation. Reports suggest the largest submarine could carry up to sixteen people, though the exact capacity varied among the three vessels Drebbel constructed.
Safety and Crew Experience
You should understand that these early submarines were constructed from rowboats covered with watertight leather. The crew had to row continuously underwater to maintain movement and control. Drebbel’s background as a chemist likely helped him address air quality concerns inside the sealed vessel.
The watertight seals around the oars represented a critical safety feature that prevented water from flooding the cabin. The successful three-hour submersion demonstrated that passengers could survive extended periods underwater with Drebbel’s air supply system functioning properly.
Innovations in Submarine Technology and Air Supply
Early submarine builders faced two critical challenges: moving their vessels underwater and keeping crews alive below the surface. Cornelis Drebbel’s 1620 submarine addressed both problems with solutions that influenced submarine design for centuries.
Underwater Propulsion and Control
Drebbel’s wooden submarine used oars to propel and steer the vessel through the Thames River. The crew rowed while enclosed in the leather-covered craft, much like a regular rowboat but completely sealed from the water. This human-powered system proved workable for short underwater trips.
The design included adjustable plungers and cranksets to control depth. You could change the submarine’s buoyancy by adjusting these mechanical components. Drebbel also equipped his vessel with a quicksilver barometer to measure how deep the submarine had descended. This gave the crew vital information about their position underwater.
Between 1620 and 1624, Drebbel built two improved versions of his original design. Each version tested better methods for steering and depth control. Later inventors tried different approaches, but human-powered propulsion remained common until the 1800s when compressed air systems emerged.
Oxygen and Air Management Solutions
Drebbel solved the air supply problem using a chemical process involving saltpeter to refresh oxygen inside the sealed vessel. This innovation went beyond what scientists thought possible at the time. The saltpeter system allowed his crew to stay submerged longer than anyone expected.
His submarines also used compressed air for breathing, which became a standard feature in later designs. This wasn’t perpetual motion, but it extended underwater time significantly. The combination of chemical oxygen refresh and compressed air kept crews safe during test runs in the Thames.
Legacy and Influence on Future Submarine Development
Drebbel’s 1620 submarine established core principles that shaped underwater vessel design for centuries. His innovations in air supply systems and watertight construction inspired generations of inventors and eventually led to the sophisticated nuclear submarines you see today.
Inspiration for Later Inventors
Drebbel’s submarine design was the first to address air replenishment while submerged, a problem that challenged inventors for the next 150 years. His work with greased leather seals and air tubes provided a blueprint that later designers studied and improved upon.
David Bushnell drew from these early concepts when he built the Turtle in 1776 during the American Revolution. Bushnell’s one-person submarine used hand-operated propellers instead of oars, but it maintained Drebbel’s fundamental approach to creating a watertight vessel. The Turtle became the first submarine used in combat, attempting to attach explosives to British ships in New York Harbor.
Engineers continued refining Drebbel’s ballast principles throughout the 1800s. You can trace a direct line from his simple design to the complex ballast tank systems that modern submarines rely on for diving and surfacing.
Advancements in Submarine Warfare
Submarines transformed naval strategy in ways Drebbel never imagined. During World War I, German U-boats sank thousands of Allied ships using tactics that exploited the stealth advantages Drebbel first demonstrated. The basic concept of approaching targets unseen remained unchanged from 1620.
World War II expanded submarine warfare across both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. Submarines played a major role in naval warfare, with American submarines destroying over 1,300 Japanese vessels. The Cold War era brought nuclear submarines that could remain underwater for months, far exceeding Drebbel’s few hours of submersion. These vessels used nuclear reactors for propulsion, eliminating the need for surface air that had limited earlier designs.
Impact on Scientific Research
You benefit from submarine technology in unexpected ways today. Research submarines explore ocean depths that were impossible to reach in Drebbel’s time, studying marine life and mapping the seafloor. Scientists use small submersibles to examine underwater volcanic activity, coral reef ecosystems, and shipwrecks at depths exceeding 20,000 feet.
Submarines also advance materials science and engineering. The pressure-resistant hulls required for deep diving led to innovations in metallurgy and composite materials. These developments found applications in aerospace, construction, and manufacturing industries you interact with daily.
Cornelis Drebbel’s Other Notable Inventions and Contributions
Beyond his submarine work, Drebbel made major advances in optical technology and developed early temperature control systems that changed how scientists conducted experiments.
Optics and Measurement Innovations
Drebbel built what many historians believe was the first compound microscope around 1620. Dutch Ambassador Willem Boreel saw this device during a 1619 visit to London. The instrument measured about 18 inches long and two inches wide, supported by three brass dolphins.
The microscope used two convex lenses to magnify objects. This design was so effective that Galileo Galilei saw it in Rome in 1624 and created his own improved version. He sent his microscope to Federico Cesi, who used it to study bees for his book.
You should know that the invention’s credit is disputed. The Jansen family claimed Drebbel stole the idea from them. However, several of Drebbel’s contemporaries, including Christiaan Huygens, credited him as the true inventor.
Drebbel also developed an automatic precision lens-grinding machine. This tool helped him manufacture telescopes and other optical instruments that were in constant demand across Europe.
Chemical Engineering and Thermoregulation
Drebbel invented a chicken incubator with a mercury thermostat that kept a constant temperature automatically. This was one of the first feedback-controlled devices ever recorded.
He accidentally discovered a brighter red dye while working on colored liquid for a thermometer. When he dropped a flask of aqua regia on a tin window sill, the mixture created stannous chloride. This chemical made carmine dye much brighter and longer-lasting. His daughters and sons-in-law established a successful dye works in Bow, London in 1643, selling the color as “bow dye” or “colour Kufflerianus.”
Drebbel was also known for his perpetuum mobile, a perpetual motion machine that amazed European courts. He demonstrated working air conditioning systems and developed early versions of the barometer and thermometer. His portable stove used fuel efficiently and maintained steady heat through an early regulator system.
He worked with explosives too, including mercury fulminate and fulminating gold. He discovered that mixing “spiritus vini” with mercury and silver in “aqua fortis” could explode.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cornelis Drebbel built the first navigable submarine in 1620 and tested it multiple times in the Thames River with King James I as a passenger. His work extended far beyond submarines to include inventions like the thermostat, compound microscope, and scarlet dye.
What innovations did Cornelis Drebbel contribute to the field of submarine development?
Drebbel built the first navigable submarine while working for the English Royal Navy. He created a steerable vessel with a leather-covered wooden frame that could actually move underwater.
Between 1620 and 1624, he constructed three submarines, with each version larger than the last. The final model had six oars and could carry 16 passengers. This submarine could travel from Westminster to Greenwich and back while staying underwater for three hours at depths between 12 and 15 feet.
How did Cornelis Drebbel’s submarine design function?
The submarine used a wooden frame covered in waterproofed leather to keep water out. Oarsmen inside the vessel powered it by rowing, which allowed the submarine to move through the water.
The design was steerable, meaning the crew could control which direction it went. You could think of it as an enclosed rowboat that could safely travel beneath the surface.
Was Drebbel’s submarine ever utilized in a military conflict?
No, Drebbel’s submarine was never used in combat despite being tested many times in the Thames. The British Admiralty watched the demonstrations but never showed enough interest to use it for military purposes.
The submarine remained a fascinating demonstration rather than a practical weapon of war. It would be more than two centuries before submarines became important in naval warfare.
Beyond submarine technology, what other notable inventions did Cornelis Drebbel achieve?
Drebbel invented a chicken incubator with a mercury thermostat that kept a constant temperature, making it one of the first feedback-controlled devices. He also developed a working air conditioning system and invented a working thermometer.
He created a glass-grinding machine and used it to make lenses for microscopes and telescopes. Many historians believe he invented the compound microscope around 1620, though this claim is disputed.
Drebbel accidentally discovered a bright scarlet dye when he dropped aqua regia on a tin windowsill. His daughters and sons-in-law turned this discovery into a successful dye business, with the color becoming very popular across Europe.
What significant invention emerged in the year 1620?
The first submarine dropped below the waves in 1620, designed and built by Cornelis Drebbel. This marked the first time a vessel could remain underwater for an extended period while being propelled and steered.
The submarine represented a major breakthrough in underwater navigation. Before this, no one had successfully created a vessel that could safely carry people beneath the water’s surface for hours at a time.
What historical event marked King James I’s interaction with submarine technology?
King James I rode in Drebbel’s submarine during a test dive beneath the Thames River. This made King James I the first monarch to travel underwater.
The demonstration took place with several thousand Londoners watching from the riverbanks. The king’s willingness to personally test the submarine showed how impressive and reliable Drebbel’s invention was for its time.
