How did Benjamin Maillefert help shape Civil War naval engineering? This article explores his work with the Union Navy, his innovative diving bell, his role in early torpedo development, and his continued efforts to make Hell Gate safer for navigation.

Before modern underwater engineering, Benjamin S. H. Maillefert was using explosives to clear one of New York’s most dangerous waterways. This article explores how his pioneering work at Hell Gate transformed nineteenth-century blasting, marine salvage, and maritime history.