John Bell Blish

John Bell Blish (September 8, 1860 – December 22, 1921) was an American inventor known primarily for developing the Blish lock, used in the Thompson submachine gun, more commonly known as the "Tommy Gun". Blish was born in Seymour, Indiana, and attended the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. Blish licensed the patent for his lock to the Auto-Ordnance Corporation in 1915 in return for company stock.

Blish was a career United States naval officer, serving as executive officer on the U.S. warships Niagara and Vicksburg (PG-11) during the Spanish–American War. He retired from the United States Navy with the rank of Commander in 1919.

Blish was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Namesake

The USS John Blish, a survey ship commissioned during World War II, was named after him.

References

External links

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships: John Blish

Genealogical and Historical Page for John Bell Blish

1860 births

1921 deaths

20th-century American inventors

American military personnel of the Spanish–American War

Burials at Arlington National Cemetery

United States Navy officers