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CHAPTER IV The Modern Submarine The early ’forties of the nineteenth century were troublous times in Ireland. Riot, evictions, and venomous antagonism to English rule were the order of the day. Into such a world of turmoil, unrest, and racial prejudice there was born in County Clare, in 1842, one whose life’s work was destined to play ___seventy-two years later—an important role in the eternal contest for supremacy between nations. It is not surprising that this boy, John P. Holland, raised as he was in an atmosphere of hostility to the English, should have become saturated with anti- British sentiment. It was dinned into his ears by relatives, friends, acquaintances, and strangers. The result was that by the time he was emerging from youth into manliood lie had become a liot-liead among hot-heads, consumed by one burning desire the overthrow of British domination and the release of his native country from the yoke of English tyranny, as it was called. But young Holland had not only inherited pro- nounced political ideals. In his early years, he also revealed the family traits of industry, genius, and dogged determination to succeed against the most adverse circumstances. Although his parents were not well blessed with this world s goods, they ex- tended him the best education which they could 71