Sarah Mather (1796, in Brooklyn – June 21, 1868) was an American inventor, best remembered for patenting the first underwater telescope.

Background

Sarah Mather, originally from Brooklyn, New York, is most known for her invention of the underwater telescope. Born Sarah Porter Stiman in 1796, she was married to Harlow Mather at age 23, in 1819. Several years later, in 1845, April 16 she received a patent for her innovation of the “submarine telescope and lamp”. Unfortunately, much of her personal life is unclear, but she was a mother. At the time of her invention's patent, the U.S. was engaged in the Mexican-American War, but her work became most valuable in the time of the Civil War. With the beginning of submarine use in warfare, her invention and later improvements [^[1]] significantly impacted the defeat of the Confederates [^[2]]. She passed away on June 21, 1868.

Invention of the submarine telescope

The invention, “Submarine Telescope and Lamp”, and its later improvement, was created as an adjustable means to examine surroundings under water. Mather drew very detailed drawings, which gave a concise depiction to her invention, streamlining her patenting process. The light on the telescope allowed vision underwater for as far as 500 feet and as deep as 250 feet [^[3]]. This improved underwater visibility invention was created to solve the problem of the absence of underwater clarity for various reasons. This applied to vessel damages, animal exploration, general examination of the surroundings, and construction/demolition projects. However, the primary issue being solved was the issue of having to remove the ship from the water to examine damages. The structure of the telescope was adjustable, with watertight joints to better examine that which was needed. The lamp of the telescope was accompanied by a reflector globe which expanded visibility. Furthermore, the telescope included air circulation technology which prevented the collapse of the tube at different pressures [^[4]]. Mather created an original solution that further advanced the entire naval industry.

Impact on contemporary society

Although Sarah Mather worked on and patented her invention over 200 years ago, her innivative solution has evolved to impact modern society. Her invention proceeded to inspire the modern aquascopes, bathyscapes, and parascopes. Underwater telescopes are being used to this day to better understand the world and save lives. Underwater investigations and searchparties use technology that take inspiration from the intentionality of Mather's underwater telescope. Sonar scans and diving teams have now largely taken over underwater investigation [^[5]], but the solution achieves a similar goal to that of the original telescope. Sarah's idea for improving underwater visibility has not gone entirely extinct as similar adjustable telescopes are being used to this day. In lake Baikal, for example, scientists are using BaikalGVD to search for neutrinos, the universes smallest known particles [^[6]]. The reinterpretation of Sarah's invention has changed with the advancement technology, but the original exploratory and saving nature of the “submarine telescope” has not changed. Though there have been technological advancement in underwater visibility, and the invention my now–in its original form–be obsolete, it has inspired creations that have altered the world. Similar inventions have become a regular tool from military operations as well as optics used in medicine.

Sarah Mather may not have much known about her personal life, but her invention has affected not only history and its inventions, but will likely continue to inspire in the future.

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