St. Julien Ravenel

During the American Civil War, he designed the torpedo boat CSS David that was used to attack the Union ironclad USS New Ironsides.

Born in Charleston, South Carolina, St. Julien was the oldest child of merchant and ship owner John Ravenel and his wife, Anna Eliza Ford.

[3] Finding medical work distasteful and disliking the drudgery of being a doctor,[1] Ravenel began an association with Professor Louis Agassiz, studying microscopy, natural history, and physiology.

[2] With the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Ravenel volunteered with the Phoenix rifles and served as a private during the siege of Fort Sumter.

Using an earlier concept of Ross Winans, Ravenel provided the initial design for the vessel and the construction was completed with the aid of David C. Ebaugh.

Named the David, this cigar-shaped, semi-submersible vessel was fitted with a torpedo at the end of 14-foot iron spar mounted at the bow.

On October 5, 1863, the CSS David was used to attack the USS New Ironsides near Charleston Harbor, causing damage but failing to breach the hull.

[8] Ravenel's knowledge of chemistry was put to use when he was placed in charge of a laboratory in Columbia that manufactured nearly all of the South's medical supplies, including drugs and medicines.