18 Facts About Robert Whitehead

Robert Whitehead was an English engineer who was most famous for developing the first effective self-propelled naval torpedo.

Robert Whitehead was born in Bolton, England, the son of James Whitehead, a cotton-bleacher, and his wife Ellen Whitehead nee Swift.

Robert Whitehead trained as an engineer and draughtsman, and attended the Mechanics' Institute, Manchester.

Robert Whitehead then moved to Trieste, on the Adriatic coast of Austria.

In 1856, Robert Whitehead became manager of the company, and changed its name to Stabilimento Tecnico di Fiume.

Robert Whitehead fiercely guarded his trade secrets; employees were often sworn to secrecy about the guidance mechanisms employed in his torpedoes.

In 1890 Robert Whitehead opened a UK manufacturing and test site in Portland Harbour, Dorset.

When Robert Whitehead retired, the Robert Whitehead family sold the company to two large British armaments companies, Vickers and Armstrong-Whitworth.

In 1915, the Robert Whitehead company established one of its largest enterprises, the Hungarian Submarine Building Corporation in Rijeka.

Robert Whitehead was hit by torpedoes launched from torpedo boats operating from the tender Velikiy Knyaz Konstantin under the command of Stepan Osipovich Makarov.

Robert Whitehead's invention of the torpedo was a key development in naval history.

Robert Whitehead was a devout Christian and a supporter of the temperance movement.

Robert Whitehead left his fortune to his granddaughter Agathe Whitehead.

Robert Whitehead is buried at the Parish Church of St Nicholas, Worth in Crawley, West Sussex.

Robert Whitehead's epitaph reads "Robert Whitehead's fame was in all nations round about".

The Torpedo Research Vessel RMAS Robert Whitehead was named in his honour.

Robert Whitehead married Frances Maria Johnson, daughter of James Johnson and Ann Boville.

Robert Whitehead died in 1905 at Beckett Hall, Shrivenham, Berkshire, a country house he had leased from Viscount Barrington.