Encyclopedia · People, inventors, and ordnance officers

William Armstrong

Sir William Armstrong (1810-1900) was a British engineer and industrialist who designed the Armstrong gun, known for its built-up wrought-iron construction and breech-loading.

Also known as: Sir William Armstrong.

Born1810
Died1900
NationalityBritish
Known forThe Armstrong gun; built-up wrought-iron construction

The Newcastle engineer

Sir William Armstrong of Newcastle was an engineer and industrialist whose interests ran from hydraulics to armaments. He designed the Armstrong gun, notable for a barrel built up of coiled and welded wrought iron and, in many patterns, for breech-loading.

Armstrong guns and their projectiles reached North America in small numbers during the Civil War, and his works became one of the great British armament firms.

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Sources & further reading

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