Lake, Simon

Lake, Simon (1866–1945) engineer, inventor; born in Pleasantville, N.J. He became interested in designing underwater vessels. He competed with John P. Holland's design in 1893 and launched his gasoline engine-powered Argonaut, which became the first submarine to successfully operate in the open sea (1898). He established the Lake Torpedo Boat Company in Bridgeport, Conn. (1900) and the U.S. government bought his submarine Seal in 1911. He also worked as a submarine consultant to the Russian, German, and British governments.