author
William Greener
1806–1869
Best known as a 19th-century English gunmaker and inventor, he also wrote detailed books that explain how firearms worked and how shooting technology was changing in his time. His writing blends practical know-how with the curiosity of an engineer who was always trying to improve things.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in 1806, William Greener was an English inventor, gunmaker, and technical writer whose name became closely tied to major advances in firearms. He is remembered for developing an early self-expanding bullet in the 1830s and for other inventions, including work on cannon firing systems, safety lamps, and railway crossing mechanisms.
Greener also turned his expertise into books. His works on gunnery and firearms were written to explain the science behind rifles, cannon, and sporting arms in a clear, practical way, giving readers a window into a period of rapid mechanical change. That mix of workshop knowledge and careful explanation is what still makes his writing interesting today.
He died in 1869. For readers interested in the history of invention, engineering, or shooting sports, his books offer more than technical detail—they show how one working inventor thought about solving problems and refining the tools of his age.