Ezra Lee piloted Turtle during its attempted attack on HMS Eagle in 1776.
Lee was a Continental Army sergeant selected for the dangerous mission because he was considered strong and capable of operating the submarine. The craft had room for only one person, who had to propel it, manage its ballast and steering, and attempt to attach an explosive charge while submerged.
On September 7, 1776, Lee approached Admiral Richard Howe’s flagship in New York Harbor. He tried several times to drive a fastening device into the ship’s underside, but the attempt failed. Lee later released the explosive charge, which drifted away and reportedly detonated without harming Eagle.
The mission is often remembered as a technological first rather than a battlefield victory. Turtle was built by inventor David Bushnell, but Bushnell did not pilot the attack. That distinction is a common source of confusion when the submarine’s history is summarized.