Background
Rodman, Thomas Jackson was born on July 30, 1815 in Salem, Indiana, United States. Son of James and Elizabeth (Burton) Rodman.
Rodman, Thomas Jackson was born on July 30, 1815 in Salem, Indiana, United States. Son of James and Elizabeth (Burton) Rodman.
Graduated from the United States Military Academy, 1841.
Commissioned captain United States Army, 1855, lieutenant colonel, 1867. Had original idea of casting guns upon hollow core, cooling inner surface by flow of waters. Did experiments resulting in successful manufacture of so-called mammoth and perforated-cake, or prismatic gun powder.
Inventions approved and adopted by government, 1859.
Methods utilized by Russia, Great Britain, Prussia. Commanded arsenal at Watertown, Massachusetts.
Supervised casting of smooth bores and rifled guns during Civil War. Brevetted lieutenant colonel, colonel, brigadier general, 1865.
Commanded Rock Island (Illinois) Arsenal, 1865.
Married Martha Black, 1843, 7 children.