Archivo de Isaac Peral y Caballero
Archive of Isaac Peral y Caballero
Approximate 1885 - Approximate 1940
Fondo_en
This unit of description contains 7 units more
Acquisition's history: This fund is part of "Archivo histórico Nacional". since 1972. It has been guarded since 1988 in the Diversos section (Miscellaneous)
Isaac Peral was born in Cartagena on June 1, 1851. He was a Spanish sailor, mainly known for being the builder of the first submarine equipped with electric propulsion immersion. It made underwater navigation feasible to overcome the limitations of previous designs. From a military family, he joined the Navy in 1866 and toured many different destinations that allowed him to acquire a wide technical background, such as the Astronomical Observatory of San Fernando, the Hydrographic Commission and the new Navy School, in which he was a professor of Physics and Chemistry (1882). Since 1885 he began working in the field of underwater navigation and, although he integrated some innovations from other countries, his contributions were decisive for its development. The biggest achievements were related to the management of electric power for immersion propulsion. In 1888 the Navy successfully launched the prototype of the submarine Peral in the La Carraca arsenal (Cádiz). It was a ship equipped with all the technical novelties designed by Peral: special batteries to feed the two engines of 30 horsepower, capable of moving more than eighty tons (prototype's weight) at 10 knots under water, a periscope, a compass protected from possible deviations caused by other electrical appliances, a "depth device" to stabilize the ship without the use of ballasts and various air purifiers that made it possible to lengthen the dives. It was also equipped with weapons novelties: a torpedo tube that he had invented, which allowed to attack enemy ships from a distance for the first time. The prototype's success and the enthusiastic monitoring of the press turned Isaac Peral into a popular hero for some time. However, although the Marine Minister Manuel de la Pezuela had eagerly welcomed and promoted the work of the engineer, his successors in office (José María Beránguer and Rafael Rodríguez Arias) hindered his achievement. The difficulties encountered so that the Government continued supporting his investigations led him to withdraw from the the Navy in 1891 and to settle down on his own account as manufacturer of electrical material; at that time he patented several practical inventions related to public lighting. He died early on May 24, 1895 of a brain tumor which had been operated on in Germany.
El fondo fue comprado a los herederos de Isaac Peral en 1972
The fund documentation of this scientist and soldier of the XIX century is composed of documentation related to the manufacturing process of the submarine, official correspondence, correspondence on the submarine, press, documentation and personal correspondence. In relation to the documentation on the design of the submarine Peral, the original designs of the prototype plans, official correspondence of the period of its construction, economic documentation (material expenses, salaries, etc.) stand out, as well as technical notes. Also noteworthy is a large volume of private correspondence received by Isaac Peral through which corporations, associations and individuals, congratulate him for the success of his work with the submarine, or support him in the moments of decline of his professional career. Also of great interest are the numerous tributes that in the form of poems, scores or writings of various kinds were sent to him.
Gathered on an unknown date (clearly close to his death), this fund documentation must have had an organization given at an early time, either by himself or by his immediate successors, of which, however, little remains. The new structure that has been given has been based on the old one, when it has been recovered.
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Español (Alfabeto latino).
PEÑA, Mª T. de la y VIGÓN, A. M.ª: [Archivo Histórico Nacional. Sección de Diversos]: Inventario general de los documentos y bienes muebles que pertenecieron a don Isaac Peral y Caballero.- [Madrid, s.f.]. Mecanografiado
Good
Cruz Herranz, Luis Miguel de la. Bibliografía del Archivo Histórico Nacional. En: Boletín de la ANABAD. Madrid: 1996. XLVI. p. 359-414.
Signatura: DIVERSOS-ISAAC_PERAL, 1-18 y DIVERSOS-ISAAC_PERAL, Car,1-24