Congreve, SIR WILLIAM

Congreve, SIR WILLIAM, was born 20th May 1772, the son of William Congreve, Comptroller of the Royal Laboratory at Woolwich. Young Congreve passed through the Royal Academy at Woolwich, and in 1808, after a long series of experiments, contrived the Congreve rocket. It was tried in the Basque roads in 1809, and at Leipzig in 1813, scarcely with the success that was expected. Honours were heaped on Congreve; he was elected F.R.S., and returned to parliament in 1812. Two years later he succeeded to the baronetcy and his father's place. He died at Toulouse, 16th May 1828. See ROCKET.