Robert F. Flemming, Jr.

Robert F. Flemming, Jr.
Born (1839-07-00)July , 1839[1]
Baltimore, Maryland[2]
Ethnicity African-American[1]
Occupation Guitar manufacturer,[3] inventor,[4] music teacher[5]
Known for Invention of guitar-like instrument "Euphonica",[4] spotting the H.L. Hunley[6]
Spouse(s) Eleanora Flemming[5]

Military career

Other name(s) Fleming,[1] Flemmings[4]
Allegiance Union[7]
Years of service 1863–1865[1]
Rank Landsman[1]
Unit 25th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts[7]

Robert F. Flemming, Jr. was an African-American inventor[4] and Union sailor in the American Civil War.[1][7] He was the first crew member aboard the USS Housatonic to spot the H.L. Hunley before it sank the USS Housatonic. The sinking of USS Housatonic is renowned as the first sinking of an enemy ship in combat by a submarine.[6]

Biography

Early life

Robert F. Flemming Jr. was born a free black man[8] in Baltimore, Maryland[2] during July of 1839[5] where he lived with his father Robert F. Flemming Sr., a baker,[2] and his mother, Mary J. Flemming.[8] By 1850 the family had moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts and Flemming Jr. (age 12) had four new siblings: John (age 10), Catherine (age 5), George (age 2), and Mary (an infant).[2]

Invention and music career

Illustration of a Euphonica

Although Flemming is occasionally misattributed as inventing the guitar, in 1886 he invented and patented a guitar-like instrument called the "Euphonica," designed to produce a louder sound with less force required than a traditional guitar.[4] During his later years he was a guitar manufacturer[3] and music teacher.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Sailor Detail: Fleming, Robert F.". Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System. U.S. National Park Service. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 1850 United States Census, 1850; Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts; roll 325, page 122B, line 36. Retrieved on 6 February 2016. <https://archive.org/stream/populationschedu0325unix#page/n246/mode/1up>
  3. 1 2 Boston City Directory, 1890. Boston, MA, USA: Sampson, Murdock and Co., 1890. <http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1890bostonma&gss=sfs28_ms_db&new=1&rank=1&gsfn=Robert%20F.&gsfn_x=XO&gsln=Flemming&gsln_x=XO&MSAV=0&uidh=000>
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 US 338727, Flemmings, Robert, "Guitar", issued 1886-03-30 <http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=00338727>
  5. 1 2 3 4 1900 United States Census, 1900; Melrose Ward 6, Middlesex, Massachusetts; roll 663, page 302A, line 16, enumeration district 0882, Family History film 1240663. Retrieved on 6 February 2016. <https://archive.org/stream/12thcensusofpopu663unit#page/n607/mode/1up>
  6. 1 2 Hicks, Brian (January 2014). "One-Way Mission of the H. L. Hunley.". U.S. Naval Institute. U.S. Naval Institute. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 "Soldier Detail: Flemming, Robert". Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System. U.S. National Park Service. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  8. 1 2 1840 United States Census, 1840; Baltimore Ward 6, Baltimore, Maryland; roll 159, page 268, line 10, Family History film 0013183. Retrieved on 6 February 2016. <https://archive.org/stream/populationsc18400159unit#page/n224/mode/1up>


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