SKETCH OF JOHN ERICSSON. 115 



examination for and obtained an appointment on the survey of 

 northern Sweden, and in connection with that work made de- 

 tailed drawings of fifty square miles of the country. 



On the advice of friends, including the king, who considered 

 his abilities greater than could be adequately rewarded in Sweden, 

 and himself, no doubt, willing to seek a larger field of usefulness, 

 Ericsson in 1826 secured a leave of absence from the service and 

 went to England. He took with him plans, including a flame 

 engine which he had experimented on successfully with wood as 

 fuel, but which was not available when coal was used ; and a still 

 undeveloped idea in his mind of a vessel which " it was possible 

 for Sweden to build, and which would render the wooden walls of 

 England of no avail against her." He had intended to resign his 

 lieutenancy, but, overstaying his leave of absence without obtain- 

 ing an acceptance of his resignation, he was placed in an embar- 

 rassing position, from which he was extricated by the intercession 

 of the crown prince; and in October, 1827, he received a promo- 

 tion to a captaincy and an acceptance of his resignation. The 

 title of captain thus obtained, and a degree of LL. D. from an 

 American university, were the only honors he cared to display to 

 the jmblic, though he had many others equally high. 



In the two years, 1828 and 1829, after he went to England, 

 Captain Ericsson completed seven inventions. One of these, a ma- 

 chine for compressing air, was used in clearing one of the Cornish 

 mines of water ; another involved the use of artificial draft for 

 steam-boiler furnaces. Sir John Ross was preparing for his sec- 

 ond arctic expedition, but not wishing his purpose known, con- 

 cealed it in ordering the engines of his vessel ; and the contractors, 

 Braithwaite and Ericsson, supposing that the voyage was to be of an 

 ordinary character, put in one of these engines with other append- 

 ages not adapted to arctic navigation. When Captain Ericsson 

 learned the destination of the vessel, he warned Captain Ross that 

 the engine had not been built for that kind of work and would 

 be useless. His prediction was fulfilled as soon as the vessel en- 

 tered arctic waters, and the engine was thrown overboard. The 

 principle was, however, retained for ordinary steam vessels, with 

 results quite satisfactory. The third invention was a steam fire 

 engine. The first, an experimental engine, was followed by four 

 others, completed, one of which, sent to Prussia, proved so efficient 

 that the designer received, in recognition of its value, an honorary 

 membership in the Berlin Institute. Another engine, employed 

 in London, extinguished the fires, but was objected to and rejected 

 on account of the quantity of water it required ; and it was nearly 

 thirty years before London would have another steam fire engine, 

 inferior to Ericsson's. 



In 1829, while it was still undecided whether stationary or 



