Isaac Newton Lewis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Isaac Newton Lewis
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| Born | October 12, 1858 |
| Died | November 9, 1931 (aged 78) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Inventor, Officer |
| Known for | Lewis gun |
Isaac Newton Lewis (born October 12, 1858 – died November 9, 1931) was an American Army officer. He is best known as the inventor of the famous Lewis gun. This machine gun was widely used during World War I.
Contents
Isaac Newton Lewis: An American Inventor
Early Life and Army Career
Isaac Newton Lewis was born in New Salem, Pennsylvania. This was on October 12, 1858. He later attended the United States Military Academy. He graduated from this academy in 1884. After graduating, he became a second lieutenant in the Army's artillery branch.
Early in his career, Lewis became an expert on ordnance. Ordnance means military weapons and equipment. In 1900, Captain Lewis traveled to Europe. He went there to study military weapons. His findings helped improve the Army's field artillery. He rose through the ranks over the years. In August 1913, he became a colonel. He then retired from the Coast Artillery Corps due to a disability.
Inventing the Lewis Gun
In 1911, Isaac Lewis improved an existing machine gun design. He started actively selling his new version. This weapon soon became known as the "Lewis Gun." It was a very important weapon in World War I. The Allied armies, like Britain and France, used it. The United States Navy also used it. Even airplanes from the U.S. and its allies used the Lewis Gun.
At first, the United States Army was not interested in his new gun. But the British and French armies bought many of them. They purchased over 100,000 guns for use in the trenches. After seeing its success, the U.S. Army finally bought them too. Lewis was already a wealthy man. He chose not to accept money for the guns made for the United States. These payments, called royalties, would have been over $1.2 million.
Other Clever Inventions
Isaac Lewis was a very creative inventor. Besides the Lewis Gun, he created many other useful things. These included a special clock and bell system for signals. He also made a system to track and relocate coast batteries. He invented an automatic sight for weapons.
Other inventions included quick-reading mechanical verniers. These were used in coast defenses. He also developed electric car lighting. And he created windmill electric lighting systems. In 1919, he received the Franklin Institute's Elliott Cresson Medal for his work.
Later Life and Legacy
Isaac Newton Lewis passed away on November 9, 1931. He died from a heart attack. This happened at the Lackawanna Railroad terminal in Hoboken, New Jersey. He was waiting for a train to his home in Montclair. He is buried at the West Point Cemetery. This cemetery is located at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York.
See also
In Spanish: Isaac Newton Lewis para niños
