Heroes and Cultural Identity Project

SCE Heroes - Cornelius van Drebbel

The forward thinking -

CORNELIUS VAN DREBBEL

by Laura Mears

I have chosen Cornelius Van Drebbel because he is one of the people who didn't just theorize about a possible idea, but put into practice. By inventing and trying out the first working submarine, he showed great initiative in furthering the way that we looked at our world, and what we could get from it.

Cornelius van Drebbel was born in Alkmarr the Netherlands in 1572. As a young boy he was taken as an apprentice by a local engraver that dabbled in Alchemy, which is where he first picked up on it. Drebbel moved to London in later life where he had the worlds first submarine tested King James 1 and Admiralty, although able to keep under water for 3 hours with space for 16 men, the Admiralty were not interested.

First navigable submarine in 1620 designed for the English Royal Navy.

Since that time to the present day, underwater travel and exploration has been taken to like the search and exploration of space. Our seas cover over 70% of the earth and are teeming full of life, with new discoveries being uncovered all the time. Drebbels invention has helped us in our warfare, now it can help us better understand the world we live in and that we want to preserve.

Laura Mears is a science student following a one year university access course in biological sciences.