Az innovatív haditechnikára alapozott meggazdagodás és politikai befolyásszerzés. Robert Whitehead szerepe a fiumei torpedógyártás világsikerében (1823–1923)
Innovative Military Technology as a Source of Wealth and Political Influence: The Role of Robert Whitehead in the Worldwide Success of Torpedo Manufacturing in Fiume (1823–1923)

Summary/Abstract: The invention of automated torpedoes propelled by compressed air brought about a fundamental change in nineteenth-century naval warfare. As a young man, British engineer Robert Whitehead (1823–1905) worked at various European workshops until 1856 when he settled in Fiume (today Rijeka) to manufacture steam engines. He discovered the plans for Giovanni de Luppis’s coastal defense weapon and by 1866 developed the prototype of the first torpedo in the modern sense of the word, launching a family-owned manufacturing enterprise for its production. Based on documents held at the Fiume State Archives (Državni Arhiv u Rijeci) and international (primarily British) scholarship, the study presents how Whitehead continued to improve his product through his business practices, despite the fact that he faced the challenges of fluctuating demand and emerging competition. In addition to corporate history, Whitehead’s personal career is also examined through the analysis of the available data and processes of his wealth accumulation and political influence. The study introduces to historical scholarship the life and work of a British engineer who chose Hungary to create and develop an invention which made such lasting impact to this day.

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