Stefan Drzewiecki (1844-1938) was a World-renowned scientist and inventor, credited with - among others - designing kilometric counter for cabs (1867), automatic railway coupler (1872), device plotting ship's course on map (1872), first submarine using a periscope (1877) and first one with electric propulsion (1888). From 1877 Russian Navy built 50 small submarines of Drzewiecki's design. In 1901 navies of Russia and France introduced torpedo launchers operating on pressurized air designed by Drzewiecki. In 1892 he wrote (in France) theoretical work regarding scientific methods of manufacture of ship (and plane) propellers and in 1920 presented a general theory for screw-propeller thrust (which in turn led to creation of propellers with adjustable blades).