Biography.guide
Home β€Ί People β€Ί Designer β€Ί William Cantelo
Portrait of William Cantelo

William Cantelo

b. 1839

British inventor

Don't just read it β€” keep itBiographies to ownE-book Β· Audio Β· Video From $7 β†’

About William Cantelo

Born 1839. William Cantelo was a British and American designer.

William Cantelo (born 1830) was a 19th-century British inventor. Credited with developing an early machine gun, he disappeared from his home in Southampton in the 1880s. While trying to find Cantelo, his two sons saw a photograph of American-born inventor Hiram Maxim (born 1840), creator of the Maxim gun; his superficial similarity to their father led them to believe that he had re-emerged under a new name.

Background

Cantelo was born in 1830 at Newport on the Isle of Wight to parents Elizabeth and William Cantelo. His father was a publican and brush maker. His brother, John, and one of his sisters, Ellen, were artists.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it β€”
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop β€” from $7

Instant download Β· yours to keep Β· every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Born
1839, Newport
Birth century
Occupation

Frequently asked questions

Who was William Cantelo?

British inventor

When was William Cantelo born?

William Cantelo was born in 1839 in Newport.

What was William Cantelo's occupation?

William Cantelo was a designer.

What nationality was William Cantelo?

William Cantelo was British and American.

Sources & further reading

Β· Wikipedia: William Cantelo

Β· Wikidata: Q16198501

Β· DBpedia: William Cantelo

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Cantelo. https://biography.guide/william-cantelo/

MLA: "William Cantelo." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-cantelo/.

Chicago: "William Cantelo." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-cantelo/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 Β· Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:18 UTC