John Garand
| Jean (John) Cantius Garand | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
January 1, 1888 St. Rémi, Quebec, Canada |
| Died | February 16, 1974 (aged 86) Springfield, Massachusetts, US |
| Nationality | Canadian, American |
| Occupation | Designer, Engineer |
| Years active | 1917-1953 |
| Employer | Springfield Armory |
| Known for | First successful semi-automatic rifle put into active military service |
| Notable work | M1 Garand |
| Awards |
Meritorious Civilian Service Award in 1941 Medal for Merit in 1944 |
Jean Cantius Garand (/ˈɡærənd/; January 1, 1888 – February 16, 1974), also known as John C. Garand, was a Canadian-American designer of firearms who created the M1 Garand, a semi-automatic rifle that was widely used by the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps during both World War II and the Korean War.
Garand was one of twelve children (six boys and six girls) born on a farm near St. Rémi, Quebec. His father moved to Jewett City, Connecticut, with the children when their mother died in 1899. All of the boys had the first name St. Jean le Baptiste, but only he went by the first name Jean. The other boys went by their middle names. Several of his brothers were also inventors. The children were employed in a textile mill where Jean learned to speak English while sweeping floors. Jean became interested in guns and learned to shoot after working at a shooting gallery. Jean learned machinist skills while working at the textile mill, and was hired by Browne and Sharpe, a Providence, Rhode Island, toolmaking company in 1909. Later, he found employment with a New York toolmaking firm in 1916, and resumed rifle practice at the shooting galleries along Broadway. Garand became a naturalized United States citizen in 1920.
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