Friday, March 13, 2009

Shrapnel

Today in 1842 saw the passing of Lieutenant General Henry Shrapnel (born June 3, 1761). He is best known for his 1784 invention of an exploding shot-filled anti-personnel shell. It wasn't adopted by the British Army until 1803, but it was particularly effective against the massed infantry columns favored by Napoleon.

He is immortalized in the US national anthem, the bombs bursting in air. Shrapnel Shells were used by the British during the bombardment of Ft. McHenry in Baltimore harbor.

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