Colonel Henry Shrapnel
The invention was the exploding shell which has come to carry Shrapnel's name. Shrapnel (1761-1842) had privately developed the shell, beginning in 1784. By the end of his career in the British army he was Lieutenant-General. In addition to the invention of shells, Shrapnel compiled range tables, invented the brass tangent slide, improved the construction of mortars and howitzers by the introduction of parabolic chambers, constructed a duplex disappearing mounting for two pieces of ordnance whereby the recoil of one gun lowered it under cover while it brought the other up ready to fire. He improved small arms and ammunition, and invented some fuses.
