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Jerónimo de Ayanz y Beaumont | |
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.jpg) Portrait of Jerónimo de Ayanz y Beaumont.Fundación Española para la Ciencia y la Tecnología, Eulogia Merle. | |
| Born | 1553 (1553) |
| Died | March 23, 1613(1613-03-23) (aged 59–60) Madrid, Crown of Castile |
| Resting place | Murcia Cathedral |
| Occupation(s) | Engineer,inventor,soldier,astronomer,artist |
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Jerónimo de Ayanz y Beaumont (1553 – 23 March 1613) was a Spanish soldier, painter, astronomer, musician and inventor. He pioneered the use and design of the steam engine, as well as mining ventilation systems, improved scientific instrumentation, developed windmills and new types of furnaces for metallurgical, industrial, military, and even domestic operations. He invented a diving bell, patented an immersion suit tested before the court ofFelipe III inPisuerga, on August 2, 1602, and designed a submarine.[1]
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He was born inGuendulain (Cizur) (Navarre), the son of Carlos de Ayanz, captain of thePamplona garrison, and Catalina de Beaumont. He was the second of the male siblings, the eldest being Don Francés de Ayanz, born a year earlier. His mother, Doña Catalina de Beaumont y Navarra, instilled in her children the principles of an education appropriate to her rank. He spent his childhood in the Guenduláin manor until in 1567 he went to serve KingFelipe II as a page.[2] At court he was instructed in military skills, letters, the arts, and mathematics, which later would serve him for his studies of cosmography.
His father, Carlos de Ayanz, took part in the campaigns in France, participating in thebattle of St. Quentin in 1557 and in the punitive expedition to the then pirate port of San Juan de Luz.[3] Jerónimo, after his training inEl Escorial, began his military career in 1571. In 1573 he participated in campaigns inTunisia, under the orders ofJohn of Austria. Failing the defense ofLa Goleta, in 1574 he was assigned toLombardy, where he served under the command ofAlexander Farnese for a few years.[1]
He made theSpanish Road, from Milan toNamur, together with his companions from the tercio under the command ofLope de Figueroa, in the record time of 32 days, in the middle of winter, to go toFlanders at the call of theDuke of Alba. He participated in thebattle of Gembloux, in 1578, and in the assault on the city ofZierikzee he carried out one of his legendary feats when, badly wounded, he continued to fight until he got rid of his attackers.[1] It was these events thatLope de Vega reflected on later in his comedy titledLo que pasa en una tarde (What happens in an afternoon, 1617), referring to him as "the newAlcides" and "the knight with the bronze fingers", due to his ability to break plates[clarification needed] with just two fingers.
In 1579 he was inMadrid, convalescent, and received some income from Felipe II in recognition of his actions inFlanders. The following year, he commanded a detachment to participate, under the orders ofSancho Dávila, in the Portuguese campaign. In 1581 he prevented the attack that a Frenchman planned against Felipe II. In 1582, under the orders of theMarquis of Santa Cruz, he boarded the ships that headed for theAzores participated in theBattle of Vila Franca do Campo.[1]For this courage and bravery, the king awarded him theMilitary Order of Calatrava. On May 7, 1582, he had received the Ballesteros de CalatravaCommandery and years later, on January 30, 1595, he would receive the Abanilla Commandery.[1]
In 1587 he was appointed general administrator ofMinas del Reino (Kingdom Mines), the management of the 550 mines that were then in Spain and those that were exploited inAmerica. He was able to solve some of the serious mining problems of that time.[1]
Settled and residing inMurcia, where he would act as alderman for a long time, he was concerned about the safety of the coast, achieving the establishment inCartagena of part of the fleet established inBarcelona, giving way, since then, to the currentnaval base. In 1589 he gathered a Murcian troop and, together with his brother Francés, who had also gathered Navarrese troops at his expense, went toLa Coruña in support of Juan Padilla, captain of the garrison, where a determinedMaría Pita successfully stoppedFrancis Drake and hisCounter Armada.[1]
He was also governor ofMartos until 1597.[1]
He died from an illness inMadrid, in 1613.[4] According to his wishes, his body was transferred to the city of Murcia, resting in the Convent of San Antonio. He was later moved to the Capilla del Socorro, located in the ambulatory of the Murcia Cathedral, a chapel that belonged to the Dávalos, a family with which he had become related after his marriage to Blanca de Pagán Fajardo, and widower of the latter, with his sister Luisa, after being appointed by Felipe II Commander of Abanilla (Order of Calatrava) and then Councilor of Murcia.[5]
Up to 48 inventions were recognized in 1606 by theprivilegio de invención (invention privilege)—as patents had been called at the time—signed by Philip III.
He is best remembered for the invention of the first steam-powered water pump for draining mines, for which he was granted a patent by the Spanish monarchy in 1606.[4]
He also improved scientific equipment, windmills and developed new types of furnaces for industrial, military and household use. He invented a bell-like diving suit and designed a submarine.[citation needed]
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