Description of an Artificial Hand

Sir George Cayley, sometimes called the "English Leonardo" due to his wide-ranging achievements in engineering, was an important pioneer in aeronautics and aerial navigation in the early-to-mid 1800's. While best known for his contributions to flight, Cayley turned his engineering talents toward creating an artificial hand for the wounded son of a tenant farmer. He wished to make a more affordable and versatile model. His innovative design mimicked the articulation and control of human movement, and contains features used in modern prostheses. A description of his invention first appeared in this article in theMechanics' magazine in March of 1845.