Nova Scotian Institute of Science - Hall of Fame

  • John Patch
  • Born: ca 1780, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
  • Died: 1861
  • Field: Sea captain, inventor

Sea captain and considered to be the co-inventor of the marine screw propeller (this device may also have been developed concurrently in Europe), successfully testing a prototype in 1833. Discouraged from applying for a US patent, despite the advantage such a propeller gave over huge inefficient paddle-wheels, he never received recognition for his invention, although the Scientific American published a description of his device in 1844.

Bibliography

Marble, Allan E.: Nova Scotians at Home and Abroad.  Lancelot Press, Windsor, Nova Scotia, 1977.

Soucoup, D.: Maritime firsts.  Pottersfield Press, Lawrencetown Beach, Nova Scotia, 1996. 186 pp.