Editing Congreve rocket (section)

==William Congreve==

Congreve began in 1804 by buying the best rockets on the London market, but found that their greatest range was only 600 yards. After spending ''‘several hundred pounds’'' of his own money on experiments, he was able to make a rocket that would travel 1,500 yards. He then ''‘applied to Lord Chatham (the responsible minister in charge of the Ordnance Department)  for permission to have some large rockets made at Woolwich’''. Permission was granted and ''‘several six-pounder rockets’'' made ''‘on principles [he] had previously ascertained’'' achieved a range of ''‘full two thousand yards’''. By the spring of 1806, he was producing 32-pounder rockets ranging 3,000 yards.
Congreve enjoyed the friendship of [[George IV|the Prince Regent]], who supported his rocket projects and in whose household he served as an [[equerry]] from 1811. The Prince Regent was also the [[Elector of Hanover]], and he was awarded the honorary rank of [[lieutenant colonel]] in the Hanoverian army's artillery in 1811. In 1813, Congreve declined the offer to command the Rocket Corps with rank in the Regiment of Artillery.
 
Congreve registered two patents and published three books on rocketry.