Edmund Zalinski

Edmund Louis Gray Zalinski, (December 13, 1849 – March 11, 1909) was a Polish-born American soldier, military engineer and inventor. He is best known for the development of the pneumatic dynamite torpedo-gun.

Early life and military service

Zalinski was born in Kórnik, Prussian Poland on December 13, 1849 emigrating with his parents to the United States in 1853. He was educated at a junior school in Seneca Falls, New York until 1861 and subsequently attended high school in Syracuse until 1863.

At the age of fifteen he volunteered for the United States Army, in which he served as aide-de-camp on the staff of General Nelson A. Miles from October 1864. In February 1865 he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 2nd New York Heavy Artillery, having been recommended for the appointment by his superior officers for gallant and meritorious conduct at the Battle of Hatcher's Run, Virginia. After being commissioned he continued on General Miles's staff until the surrender of General Robert E. Lee, participating in all of the engagements up to that date.

Zalinski was mustered out of the volunteer service in September 1865 and recommended for an appointment in the regular army, where he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the 5th United States Artillery on February 23, 1866. He was promoted to First Lieutenant in January 1867, and Captain on December 9, 1887.

Academia and military engineering

From 1872 till 1876 Zalinski served at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as professor of military science. He graduated at the Artillery School, Fort Monroe on May 1, 1880, and at the school of submarine mining, Willets Point, New York, in July of the same year.

His name became widely known in connection with the invention and development of items of military technology, particularly the pneumatic dynamite torpedo-gun. He also invented the electrical fuse and other devices for the practical application of the weapon, and devised a method for the exact sight allowance to be made for deviation due to wind in the use of rifled artillery and small arms. Other inventions included a modified entrenching tool, a ramrod-bayonet, and a telescopic sight for artillery.

Zalinski also helped John Philip Holland raise money for the development of one of his submarines, which was armed with one of Zalinski's pneumatic guns.Fact|date=June 2008

In 1889 and 1890 Zalinski traveled in Europe to study military affairs. He undertook garrison duty at San Francisco, California in 1892, and retired from military service in 1894.

Zalinski died of pneumonia in Rochester, New York.Fact|date=June 2008

References

*cite encyclopedia | title = Żaliński Edmund Ludwik | encyclopedia = Internetowa encyklopedia PWN | url=http://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo.php?id=4002766 | accessdate = 2006-11-18
*cite encyclopedia | title = Żaliński Edmund Ludwik | encyclopedia = WIEM Encyklopedia | url=http://portalwiedzy.onet.pl/26809,haslo.html | accessdate = 2006-11-18

External links

* [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=17&letter=Z Article at JewishEncyclopedia.com]
*findagrave|7689940 Retrieved on 2008-10-10

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NAME= Zalinski, Edmund
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SHORT DESCRIPTION= Union Army soldier
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