Birdsill Holly (November 8, 1820 - 27 April 1894) was an inventor. Holly was born in Auburn, New York. He spent his early years in Seneca Falls, New York, a major center of water powered industries, and he began inventing, his first patented invention being a rotary water pump. is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1820 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... is the 117th day of the year (118th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... For other uses, see Inventor (disambiguation). ... Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States of America. ... Seneca Falls is a town in Seneca County, New York, United States. ... For other uses, see Patent (disambiguation). ... A pump is a mechanical device used to move liquids or gases. ...

He left Seneca Falls in 1859 for Lockport, New York, where he established a booming business with many inventions. He is known for inventing the fire hydrant, rotary pump, and district heating. However, in the case of the fire hydrant, he merely designed and implemented the first fully functional hydrant system, the fire hydrant itself having been invented before he was born. Lockport is a city located in Niagara County, New York, United States. ... Fire hydrant in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA A fire hydrant (also known colloquially as a fire plug in the United States or as a johnny pump in New York City), is an active fire protection measure, and a source of water provided in most urban, suburban and rural areas with municipal... Rotary vane pump. ... District heating pipe in Tübingen, Germany District heating (less commonly called teleheating) is a system for distributing heat generated in a centralized location for residential and commercial heating requirements. ...

He did make a number of contributions to mechanical engineering and hydraulic engineering. Before his death he was granted over 150 United States patents. Mechanical Engineering is an engineering discipline that involves the application of principles of physics for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. ... Hydraulic engineering is a sub-discipline of civil engineering concerned with the flow and conveyance of fluids, principally water. ... For other uses, see Patent (disambiguation). ...

External links

• Holly's patent fire hydrant
• Lockport Cave's bio of Birdsill Holly