"Lewis Temple"(10-22-1800-May 1854)

He was the creator of a whaling harpoon,known as "Temple's Toggle"and "Temple's Toggle

Iron"that became the standard harpoon of the whaling industry in the middle of the 19th century.Lewis was a skilled blacksmith,not a whaler.He was born a slave in Richmond Virginia,and went to New Bradford Massachusetts,in 1829.By 1836,he was one of the 315,000free African Americans in the U.S. and successful businessman who operated a whale craft shop on the New Bradford waterfront.Based on conversations with whalers who came to his shop to have their whaling tools made and to buy harpoons,Lewis learned that many whales escaped since the harpoons used at the time were not particularly effective in holding a struggling whale.In 1848,Lewis invented a new type of harpoon,with a movable head that prevented the whale from slipping loose.The Temple Ironwas more effective than any other and when the head on Temple's harpoon became locked in the whale's flesh,and the only way to free the harpoon was to cut it loose after the whale was killed.Initially,whalers did not accept Temple's harpoon.After some trials,most whaling captains were convinced that Temple's "Toogle Iron"was far superior to the ordinary barbed head harpoon.He never patented his invention,but was able to make a good living from his harpoon sales.Lewis was able to buy the building next to his shop and,in 1854,arranged for construction of a blacksmith shop near Steamboat Wharf.Lewis accidentally fell one night while walking near his new shop construction site.He never fully recovered from his injuries.He was unable to return to work and died destitute.