Augustus Siebe

Augustus Siebe (1788-1872) is chiefly known for his contributions to diving.

Born in Saxony in 1788, little is known of his early years. He learned metalworking in Berlin and served as an artillery officer in the Prussian army at the Battle of Waterloo. After the war he moved to London England and settled at 5 Denmark Street in Soho London where he became an Engineer .

Contribution to diving

In the 1830's the Dean Brothers asked Siebe to make a variation of their Smoke Helmet design for underwater use. Later they turned to him to produce more helmets for diving operations. Expanding on improvements already made by another engineer, George Edwards, Seibe produced his own design; a Helmet fitted to a full length watertight canvas suit. The real success of the suit was a valve in the helmet.

Colonel Pasley, leader of the Royal Navy team that used Siebe's suit on the wreck of the Royal George suggested the helmet should be detatchable from the corset, giving rise to the typical standard diving dress.

The company that carried his name Siebe Gorman Ltd was founded by him and his son-on-law, Gorman.

Besides his contributions to diving he also invented:

• a rotating water pump patented in 1828,
• A Paper making machine,
• a Dial weighing machine,
• an Ice-Making Machine .

Siebe won many Medals at the Great Exhibition in 1851 and the Paris Exhibition in 1855.

He Died 15th April 1872 at his London home.

External Links

Historical Diving Society