John_Williams_(shipbuilder)

John Williams (Surveyor of the Navy)

John Williams (Surveyor of the Navy)

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Sir John Williams (1700–c.1784) was a British shipbuilder and designer who rose to be Surveyor of the Navy, the highest position in British naval architecture.

Life

HMS Royal Sovereign
A Flora-class frigate at battle

He was born in 1700 the grandson of a John Williams who designed HMS Crescent in 1642.[1]

In 1762 he was a Master Shipwright in Sheerness Dockyard. His only named ship construction is HMS Winchelsea (1764).[2]

In June 1765 he was appointed Surveyor to the Navy, working alongside Thomas Slade. This role was based in the Admiralty and involved the master planning of the British fleet and strategic planning of harbour improvements.[3]

In April 1778, he was joined at the Admiralty by Edward Hunt. He left in December 1784 his position being filled by John Henslow.[1]


Ships designed

References

  1. [1]
    "John Williams (1700-1786)". threedecks.org. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  2. [2]
    "British Fifth Rate frigate 'Winchelsea' (1764)". threedecks.org. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  3. [3]
    Records of the Surveyor of the Navy and successors. Board of Admiralty, Controller of the Navy, Board of Admiralty, Directorate of Naval Construction, Board of Admiralty, Ship Department, Naval Construction Division, Board of Admiralty, Steam Department, Board of Admiralty, Surveyor of the Navy, Navy Board, Comptroller of the Navy. 1620–1979.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
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