John Ernest Williamson

John Ernest Williamson (1881–1966) was a pioneering underwater photographer and oceanographer. He is best known for his development of the Photosphere, an innovative underwater viewing and photography device, and for his contributions to the field of underwater archaeology.

Early life and education

John Ernest Williamson was born in 1881 in Norfolk, Virginia. He was the son of Charles Williamson, a sea captain and inventor of the submarine tube, a device that allowed people to walk on the ocean floor. Inspired by his father's invention, Williamson developed a keen interest in the underwater world from a young age.

Career

In 1914, Williamson used his father's submarine tube to create the Photosphere, a device that allowed for underwater viewing and photography. The Photosphere was a large, spherical chamber with a thick glass window that could be lowered into the water. This invention revolutionized underwater photography and opened up new possibilities for scientific research and exploration.

Williamson's Photosphere was used in a number of significant underwater expeditions, including the discovery of the sunken USS Maine in Havana Harbor and the exploration of the Bermuda Triangle. His work also contributed to the development of underwater archaeology, a field that uses underwater techniques to study past human life.

In addition to his work with the Photosphere, Williamson was also a prolific writer and filmmaker. He produced several films about his underwater adventures, including Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1916), which was the first motion picture filmed underwater.

Legacy

John Ernest Williamson's contributions to underwater photography and oceanography have had a lasting impact on these fields. His invention of the Photosphere paved the way for modern underwater exploration and research, and his films brought the wonders of the underwater world to a wide audience.

See also

• Underwater photography
• Oceanography
• Underwater archaeology