Sir Henry Shrapnel

Sir Henry Shrapnel was a British Army officer and inventor, renowned for creating the “shrapnel shell” in the late 18th century. These shells were an early type of explosive artillery projectile filled with small metal pellets and an explosive charge. When fired, they burst in the air, scattering the pellets over enemy troops, causing injury over a wide area. This innovation greatly enhanced the effectiveness of artillery in warfare, and the term “shrapnel” has since become a common word for fragments from explosions. Shrapnel's development marked an important step in the evolution of military technology.