1842: Henry Shrapnel, inventor of the long-range artillery shell that bears his name, dies. Shrapnel, a British lieutenant, was serving in the Royal Artillery when he perfected his shell in the mid-1780s. A shrapnel shell, unlike a conventional high-explosive artillery round, is designed as an anti-personnel weapon.

When was the first artillery shell invented?

The artillery shell was in use by the 15th century, at first as a simple container for metal or stone shot, which was dispersed by the bursting of the container after leaving the gun. Explosive shells came into use in the 16th century or perhaps even earlier.

Who invented the shrapnel bomb?

Inventors Henry Shrapnel (1761–1842)

Henry Shrapnel invented his shrapnel shell for cannons in 1784, which was later adopted by the British army in 1803 for cannons and rifles. Shrapnel was born in 1761 and died in 1842." This photo (left) depicts two shrapnel balls from a World War I era 75-mm.