Simon Lake of Pleasantville, NJ

Atlantic County ...

Simon Lake was born in Pleasantville, New Jersey on September4, 1866.

His father, the Honorable Simon Lake, his Uncles and hisbrothers
were inventors and among the founders and developers of Atlantic City and Ocean City, NJ.

In 1883, after finishing school, Simon entered his father'sfoundry and machine shop and later became his partner. He saw ways toimprove the operation of the fishing and oyster vessels and invented a steeringgear and dredge.

According to a biography written by his son, Thomas AlvaEdison Lake,
Simon was inspired by reading Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand LeaguesUnder The Sea. (see the Simon Lake pages)

In 1892, he submitted his first design and plans to the Navy.

'The Argonaut Jr.' was built in 1894,
by Simon Lake
and demonstrated at the Atlantic Highlands by Sandy Hook.

Click on picture to follow link to History of Submarines on PBS site.

In 1895, the Lake Submarine Company of New Jersey was formedand built 'The Argonaut'.
In 1898, it became the first submarine tomake a successful voyage on the open sea.

Simon must have been thrilled to get a congratulatory telegramfrom Jules Verne. (see the Simon Lake-JulesVerne Cable page)

Who would be awarded the US contracts for developing the submarine??

One of the prime contenders that was competing with John Holland in the U.S. was Simon Lake....

Simon Lake Submarinesshows some great pictures along with a good history.

In 1901, he presented his next generation of submarines,'The Protector'. Simon had hoped to compete with Holland and interestthe US Navy in the new ship. However, the Russians then at war with Japan boughtthe submarine. It was dismantled and he went to Russia to oversea the reassembly.He then went on to build submarines for the international market.

In 1908 his services were requested by the US Navy. He builtthe USS Seal.

He continued making contributions to the improvement ofSubmarine design. During his life he held 200 patents.

In 1906, Lake's new submarine was rejected by the US Navy,
he then sold it to Russia and went there to supervise the reassembly of'Protector'.

If I could read Russian, I amsure, that there would be more information.

Anyone who reads Russian, please translate this for us. Thanks!

I find it interesting that the US Navy siteonly starts mentioning Simon Lake after 1908.

Excerpts about Simon Lake from:

United States Navy
Submarine Centennial
Submarine Technology Through the Years

For More information on Simon Lake:

Visit the Atlantic County Historical Society

from the The Simon Lake Submarine Web
hostedJeffrey B. Lake, Great-grandson OfSimon Lake

Argonaut Does It!
(Reprinted From The Sun, Dec. 17, 1897)

or read a book (one is listed below)

Argonaut
The Submarine Legacy of Simon Lake
by John J. Poluhowich

'Lake was the classic American inventor, whose rival, John Holland, reaped most of history's praise for submarine design. However, it was Lake who in 1894, at the age of twenty-seven, launched the first practical submarine in the rivers of New Jersey. In 1898, his steel vessel the Argonaut completed a thousand-mile trek up the Atlantic coast.

Questionable governmental trials resulted in the awarding of navy contracts to Lake's rival, the Holland Torpedo Boat Company, prompting Lake to build submarines for Russia and Austria. The United States did not request Lake's service until 1908 and did not recognize his contributions to underwater navigation until after his death in 1945.'

Simon Lake seems to have more International recognition then local !