Congreve, KON greev, Sir William (1772-1828), a British inventor, developed rockets that could carry explosives. His work, which included a book on rocketry, promoted the use of rockets as a major military weapon. The British used Congreve rockets against French troops during the Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815). British forces also bombarded Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, with such rockets during the War of 1812. See Rocket.