Significant improvement in the quality of gunpowder
Between the American and French revolutions, gunpowder had been vastly improved in Britain by the application of scientific research to its manufacture. This occurred as the result of the suggestions made to the government by the Professorof Divinity at Cambridge University, the Bishop of Llandff, Richard Watson.(During the five years preceding his election to the divinity professorship, Watson had held the professorship of chemistry, for which he had originally applied, not because he knew any chemistry what so ever, but because he wanted to learn some!)
The good bishop experimented with ways to improve the charcoal used in the manufacture of gunpowder and came up with a formula which allowed three pounds of powder to achieve as great effect as had formerly been arrived at with five. Watson's investigation into black gunpowder in 1787 was to save the country over 100,000 Pounds a year, as well as making English made gunpowder the most potent in the world.
This increased strength of gunpowder gave Congreve's rockets an extended flying range as well as greater explosive punch than here to fore was possible. The result was that the new rockets being turned-out by Congreve during the first decade of the 1800's were able to approach, in range at least, that of the best artillery of the day.
The family connections
Another advantage Congreve held when he sought government help in the development and acceptance of rockets was his family connections with the British government and industry. The inventor's father, Sir William Congreve (the elder),first baronet of that name, was comptroller of the government-owned powder mills at Faversham and Waltham Abbey from 1789 to 1809. Under his management, gunpowder tests were carried out, as well as the production of the improved product. Sir William's influence was invaluable in securing for his son the opportunity to bring his invention to the attention of the proper authorities and lining-up their support.
Prior development work on rockets
Although rightly credited with designing the first relatively efficient military rockets in Europe, Congreve was helped in his quest by the research of others in the field. The biggest boosts to his efforts were to be found in the ground-breaking work done before he arrived at Woolwich by General Desaguliers.
Desaguliers, an English artillerist of French descent, better known for his contributions in the testing of cannon bores and lighter and more mobile artillery pieces and carriages, had experimented with rockets as well. Although never achieving the results he sought, Desaguliers' data was used by Congreve in his own research. At the very least, they allowed Congreve to avoid the problems Desaguliers encountered, thus saving time and Resources.
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