Photograph of
Hunley designer and builder James R. McClintock
James McClintock & Baxter
Watson: Men Ahead of Their Time
James McClintock and Baxter
Watson were in the steam gauge manufacturing business in New
Orleans and locally noted for their talent in engineering and design.
Shortly after the Civil War started, Baxter and McClintock had already designed,
built, and sold two bullet-making machines to the Confederate
government.
By late fall of 1861, these two
inventors began the construction of a
three-man underwater boat. During the early phases of construction
another Louisiana gentleman eagerly joined McClintock and
Watson in their underwater venture. His name was Horace L. Hunley.
three-man underwater boat. During the early phases of construction
another Louisiana gentleman eagerly joined McClintock and
Watson in their underwater venture. His name was Horace L. Hunley.
With Hunley leading the
financing, and McClintock and Watson designing and building, the quest began to
build a stealth underwater weapon: the submarine. This quest became a
process of innovation and evolution that would result in three submarines:
the Pioneer, the American Diver, and finally, the H.L. Hunley
Courtesy of
Friends of the Hunley
