James Richard Haskell, Date of Birth, Date of Death

James Richard Haskell

American firearm designer

Date of Birth: 17-Sep-1843

Date of Death: 16-Aug-1897

Profession: engineer, inventor

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

James Richard Haskell was an American inventor chiefly remembered for his invention (with Azel S.
Lyman) of a multi-charge gun which was intended to increase muzzle velocity by detonating additional propellant charges behind the projectile or shell as it moved up the gun's barrel and was a distant ancestor of the World War II German V-3 "supergun". In 1854 Haskell began experiments with steel breech-loading rifled cannon and breech-loading small-arms, manufacturing 25 of the former, which were purchased by the Mexican Government. In 1855 he began experimenting with multi-charge guns in partnership with Azel S.
Lyman, who originated the idea of applying successive charges of gunpowder to accelerate the velocity of a projectile.