ISAAC PERAL THE MAN WHO INVENTED THE SUBMARINE AND THE TORPEDO

Isaac Peral y Caballero was born in Cartagena (Murcia) in 1851 and he died in Berlín in 1895, victim of a cancer. He was a scientific and a Spanish naval officer, and he will be always remembered as the man who invented the SUBMARINE.

He also invented the torpedo, and he was the first man who shot one. He also was interested in the climate, and he wrote some books about that, especially about hurricanes

He was in Cuba when he asked for permission to show his new idea: THE SUBMARINE. Before him, other men tried to build a machine which could sail under the water, but all of them failed because they used water vapour for the engine (motor), but Isaac Peral used an ELECTRICAL ENGINE.

Isaac Peral had to beg for money during several months to build his submarine. Finally, thanks to our Queen, María Cristina, he could do it. The 8 of September of 1888 lots of people were in Cartagena because they wanted to see the first launching of the Peral Submarine. It was a real success. Peral was decorationed and he got the recognition of everybody. The press of all over the world wrote about his great deed.

Then, the envy and our spanish short intelligence for this kind of things, appeared. Some people accused Isaac Peral to waste too much money in his invent… that he had stolen the plans… that he was a spy… so, he had to leave the army and he got ill. Before he left Spain, he published a letter and he tried to defend himself. Germany welcomed him with opened arms. He died in Berlín in 1895

Every year, our naval army paid a tribute in the Peral monument, in Cartagena. Some countries took Peral´s idea to build their own and improved submarine. When Spain realized that we have lost a great chance to be the first ones to have a submarine fleet it was too late…

There are many streets, squares, schools, high schools, Universities, all over Spain and in South America named as Isaac Peral. In the Spanish army there are some submarines and ships also named Isaac Peral. You can also see stamps, cigars, fans… In Cartagena you can see a copy of the Peral Submarine