Cornelius Jacobszoon Drebbel

The first submersible with reliable information on its construction was built in 1620 by Cornelius Jacobszoon Drebbel, a Dutchman in the service of James 1, while working for the british Royal Navy. It was propelled by means of oars. Between 1620 and 1624 Drebbel successfully built and tested two more submarines, each one bigger than the last.