The Never Ending Quiz, Test your knowledge and wit

Bedlam was an insane asylum.

Not to be confused with my house at times.

Very good, leenie. Here are the scores:

haynes9 - 2
piombmhor piper - 1
pretentiouswombat - 2
leenieww - 2

Next question to you, leenie!

The first submarine made its appearance in 1776. What was its name?

Turtle was the world's first submarine used in battle. It was invented in Connecticut in 1775 by American Patriot David Bushnell as a means of attaching explosive charges to ships in a harbor. Governor Trumbull recommended the inventor to George Washington and although the commander in chief had doubts he provided funds and support for developing and testing the machine.

Woo Hoo...score another point to Piper!
haynes9 - 2
piombmhor piper - 2
pretentiouswombat - 2
leenieww - 2


Your question Piper.

Sticking with the underwater theme, who and when invented the first under water diving device?

Give up? if so I claim the piont!

I know that Jacques Cousteau invented the aqualung but don't know the year offhand. Is that who you're looking for?

Takes me back to all those Jacques Cousteau specials I watched as a child.

In 1772, Frenchman, Sieur Freminet invented a "rebreathing" device, this was the first self-contained air device.

Close but he wasn't a Frechman. He did invent it in the 18th centrury but quite a bit earlier! Hint he was from Devon England.

This isn't a lot earlier but......

In 1771, John Smeaton invented the air pump. A hose was connected between the air pump and the diving barrel allowing air to be pumped to the diver.

Good research! but not quite there yet. I'll give one more hint. In the year 1715 this inventor from the county of Devon South West England invented a diving machine that was used to salvage valuables from wrecks.

Ah Ha! Major General John Lethbridge was the inventor in 1715 that used his diving "barrel" to salvage wrecks.

I think I discovered why he spent so much time underwater...he had 17 children....

Close enough! There were two John Lethbridge's of note and both are my ancestors
Here's the guy we were looking for:
John Lethbridge (1675–1759) invented the first underwater diving machine in 1715. He lived in the county of Devon in South West England and reportedly had 17 children.[1]

John Lethbridge was a wool merchant based in Newton Abbot who invented a diving machine in 1715 that was used to salvage valuables from wrecks. This machine was an air tight oak barrel that allowed “the diver” to submerge long enough to retrieve underwater material. In Lethbridge’s words:

It is made of wainscot perfectly round, about 6 feet in length, about 2 feet and a half diameter at the head, and about 18 inches diameter at the foot, and contains about 30 gallons; it is hooped with iron hoops without and within to guard against pressure. There are two holes for the arms, and a glass about 4 inches diameter, and an inch and a quarter thick to look though, which is fixed in the bottom part, so as to be in a direct line with the eye, two airholes upon the upper part, into one of which air is conveyed by a pair of bellows, both which are stopt with plugs immediately before going down to the bottom. At the foot part there’s a hole to let out water. Sometimes there’s a large rope fixed to the back or upper part, by which it’s let down, and there’s a little line called the signal line, by which the people above are directed what to do, and under is fix’d a piece of timber as a guard for the glass. I go in with my feet foremost, and when my arms are got through the holes, then the head is put on, which is fastened with screws. It requires 500 weight to sink it, and take but 15 pound weight from it and it will buoy upon the surface of the water. I lie straight upon my breast all the time I am in the engine, which hath many times been more than 6 hours, being frequently refreshed upon the surface by a pair of bellows. I can move it about 12 foot square at the bottom, where I have stayed many times 34 minutes. I have been 10 fathoms deep many a hundred times, and have been 12 fathom, but with great difficulty

After testing this machine in his garden pond (specially built for the purpose) Lethbridge dived on a number of wrecks – 4 English men of war, 1 East Indiaman (both English and Dutch), 2 Spanish galleons and a number of galleys. He became very wealthy as a result of his salvages. One of his better known recoveries was on the Dutch Slotter Hooge which had sunk off Madeira with over 3 tons of silver on board.

Lethbridge is buried in Wolborough church, Newton Abbot

The Scores:
haynes9 - 2
piombmhor piper - 2
pretentiouswombat - 2
leenieww - 3



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What became the first US National Monument?