Also known as: Sir Joseph Whitworth.
| Born | 1803 |
|---|---|
| Died | 1887 |
| Nationality | British |
| Known for | Precision manufacturing standards; the Whitworth rifle and projectile |
The precision engineer
Sir Joseph Whitworth was among the foremost mechanical engineers of his age, celebrated for setting standards in machining and precision manufacture. He applied that precision to ordnance in the Whitworth rifle, whose twisted hexagonal bore took a flat-sided projectile by mechanical fit.
The Whitworth's extraordinary range and accuracy made his guns prized, and imported Whitworths served in the Civil War as long-range and sharpshooting pieces.
On this site
Sources & further reading
- CivilWarArtillery.com research archive: biographical and ordnance references.