Biographical Information. Lewis Temple was the inventor of a whaling harpoon, known as “Temple’s Toggle” and “Temple’s Iron” that became the standard harpoon of the whaling industry in the middle of the 19th century. Lewis Temple was a skilled blacksmith, not a whaler. He had never even been to sea.

What did Lewis Temple invent?

While working in his shop on Walnut Street in 1848, Temple invented an improved harpooning instrument. Now called the Temple toggle iron, his creation had a pivoting head that would secure the harpoon into the whale’s flesh.

How many kids did Lewis Temple have?

He married Mary Clark in 1829 and they had three children.

How did Lewis Temple change the world?

Lewis Temple (ca. 1800-1854) invented the toggle iron, the only tool to have revolutionized the whaling industry in the nineteenth century. Temple was born in Richmond, Virginia, but whether he was enslaved or free at birth and at the time he left Richmond for New Bedford about 1829 is not known.

When was the toggle harpoon invented?

The toggle harpoon was used during the pursuit of the whale to deliver the first strike. Rather than a fixed head harpoon, the toggle harpoon featured a pivoting head that became embedded in the flesh of the whale. It was invented in 1848 by Lewis Temple who was born in Richmond, Virginia in 1784.

Is a harpoon a spear?

A harpoon is a long spear that’s barbed. To harpoon is to strike an animal, like a whale, with a harpoon.

Did Lewis Temple have kids?

Still, he was bright and resourceful and by 1836 had married Mary Clark, formerly of Maryland, had three children, and owned a whalecraft shop.

Did Lewis Temple go to college?

A native of Richmond, Virginia, Temple never received formal schooling. In 1829, he married Mary Clark and established a family in New Bedford, Massachusetts, a major whaling center.

How big is a whale harpoon?

Harpoons are used to capture whales, which are then commonly killed by driving a lance into the vital parts. Harpoons may be thrown by hand or fired from guns. These guns are 4 to 5 ft (1.2 m–1.5 m) long, weigh about 75 lb (34 kg), and discharge a harpoon weighing about 100 lb (45.4 kg).

Where did Lewis Temple grow up?

Lewis Temple was born in 1800 as a slave in Richmond, Virginia. He obtained his freedom and moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1829 where he worked as a blacksmith. Later that year he married Mary Clark, with whom he would later have three children.

How many inventions were made by black inventors?

With 50,000 total patents, Black people accounted for more inventions during this period than immigrants from every country except England and Germany.

Who invented the harpoon gun?

Designed to be fired from a shoulder gun, this nonexplosive style of harpoon was invented by Oliver Allen of Norwich, Conn. to fasten to whales prior to killing.

How is a harpoon used?

harpoon, barbed spear used to kill whales, tuna, swordfish, and other large sea creatures, formerly thrown by hand but now, in the case of whales, shot from especially constructed guns.

Who invented whaling?

Norwegians were among the first to hunt whales, as early as 4,000 years ago. The Japanese may have been doing so even earlier.

How does a toggling harpoon work?

This toggle harpoon head, which works by detaching from the shaft of the harpoon once it is stuck in an animal while remaining attached to the shaft by a rope, facilitated the hunting of larger animals at sea.

What is the Inuit harpoon head made of?

Modern harpoon heads are often made of a combination of brass and steel but, prior to contact with Europeans, native copper was frequently used by the ‘Copper Inuit’ (from the Coronation Gulf area) for harpoon end blades and rivets.