14 Facts About Louis Brennan

Louis Brennan was an Irish mechanical engineer and inventor.

Louis Brennan is best known for inventing the Brennan Torpedo, one of the earliest wire-guided torpedoes, which was adopted by the British Army in the late 19th century.

Louis Brennan started his career as a watchmaker and a few years later was articled to Alexander Kennedy Smith, a renowned civil and mechanical engineer of the period.

Louis Brennan served as a sergeant in the Victorian Engineers under the command of Captain JJ Clark.

Louis Brennan invented the idea of a steerable torpedo in 1874, from observing that if a thread is pulled on a reel at an angle with suitable leverage, the reel will move away from the thread side.

Louis Brennan went to England in 1880 and brought his invention before the War Office.

In 1887, Louis Brennan was appointed superintendent of the Louis Brennan torpedo factory, and was consulting engineer from 1896 to 1907.

Louis Brennan did much work on a monorail locomotive which was kept upright by a gyrostat.

Louis Brennan was so impressed that he brought along the Prime Minister and other cabinet members and family to see it the following week.

From 1916 to 1919 Louis Brennan served in the munitions inventions department.

Louis Brennan married Anna Quinn on 10 September 1892.

Louis Brennan was survived by a son and a daughter.

Louis Brennan was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1892, and was foundation member of the National Academy of Ireland in 1922.

Louis Brennan was buried at St Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Kensal Green, London, in an unmarked plot numbered 2454 that is opposite the Chapel record office.