Capt. David Bushnell was the inventor of many navel technologies we use to day such as the floating mine.  Bushnell made his first invention, the submarine, when he was 31 and attending Yale Collage. He named his underwater craft the Turtle. The Turtle featured 2 hand-cranked rotors, a rear ruder and a drill mounted on the top of the vessel. The Turtle’s first and last mission was piloted by Ezra Lee. The mission failed but Bushnell’s invention led to the modern submersible.

In 1776, Bushnell abandoned the Turtle and started experimenting with different variations of the existing naval bomb. As well as inventing the floating mine, Bushnell also invented the time bomb. His explosives helped to destroy British ships during the Revolutionary War.

Bushnell was reported missing in 1787 and was only found after his death in 1826. He had moved to Georgia and became a doctor and professor under the name David Bush. It is unknown why he fled from his previous career. Some historians think that he was disappointed in the Turtle, while others think it was something else entirely.

Even with all the mysteries of this American inventor, we hope he rests knowing that Capt. David Bushnell helped create the American spirit for innovation.