Cornelius Jacobszoon Drebbel (Alkmaar, 1572 - London, November 7 1633) was a Dutch inventor.

Drebbel only had elementary education (which included Latin) but had no university education. In youth he was apprenticed to the famous engraver Hendrick Goltzius in Haarlem and Drebbel married in 1595 Sophia Jansdochter, one of Goltzius' younger sisters. In same year he settled at Alkmaar, where he devoted himself to engraving and publishing maps and pictures. In 1604, King James I of England received Drebbel at his court in England and became his patron.

Drebbel became famous for his invention, in 1619, of a microscope with two convex lenses. It was the first microscope with two lenses ever invented.

He also built the first navigable submarine in 1620 while working for the British Navy. Between 1620 and 1624 Drebbel successfully maneuvered and built two more submarine, each one bigger than the last. The final (third) model had 6 oars and could carry 16 passengers. This model was demonstrated to the King James I in person and several thousands of Londoners. Submarine stay submerged for three hours and could travel from Westminster to Greenwich and back, cruising at a depths of from 12 to 15 feet (4 to 5 metres). This submarine was tested many times in Thames River, but never used in combat.

Drebbel's most famous work he wrote was Ein kurzer Tractac von der Natur der Elemetum (Leiden, 1608). He was also involved in the invention of Mercury fulminate.[1]

Drebbel was recently exalted on an episode of the cartoon Sealab 2021 during a rescue operation by submarine of workers on a research station in the Arctic. A German U-boat captain, who mysteriously "came with the sub" fired a pistol in celebration at the mention of Drebbel, to shouts of, "SIEG HEIL! CORNELIUS DREBBEL!"

External links

• Drebbel Institute for Mechatronics: Who was Cornelis J. Drebbel?
• Cornelis Drebbel (1572 - 1633)