Dossier talk:Biographies

I asked Google Bard what it knows about Cornelis Drebbel.

Cornelis Drebbel was a Dutch engineer and inventor who is best known for building the first operational submarine in 1620. He was also an innovator in the fields of measurement and control systems, optics, and chemistry.

Drebbel was born in Alkmaar, Netherlands, in 1572. He studied engraving and painting at the Haarlem Academy, and then worked as a graveur for several years. In 1600, he built a fountain in Middelburg that was powered by a waterwheel. This fountain attracted the attention of King James I of England, who invited Drebbel to come to London in 1604.

In London, Drebbel continued to invent new things. He built a perpetual motion machine, a microscope, and a telescope. He also developed a new type of stove that was more efficient than the traditional open fire.

In 1620, Drebbel built the first operational submarine. This submarine was made of wood and copper, and it could carry up to 12 people. It was powered by oars, and it could dive to a depth of about 5 meters. The submarine was demonstrated to King James I, and it was a sensation.

Drebbel died in London in 1633. He was a prolific inventor, and his work had a significant impact on the development of technology. He is considered one of the most important Dutch inventors of the 17th century.

Here are some of his other inventions:

• A clock that could run for more than 100 years
• A strong pump for a fountain
• Lenses for telescopes and microscopes
• A new type of stove
• A device for measuring air pressure
• A method for making artificial diamonds

Drebbel was a versatile and innovative inventor. His work helped to lay the foundation for many of the technologies that we use today.