Charles Frederic Chapman
Encyclopedia
Charles Frederic Chapman (January 4, 1881–March 21, 1976) was an avid boater
, editor
of Hearst
's Motor Boating magazine
from 1912 to 1968, co-founder of the United States Power Squadrons
, and author
of the standard boating reference work
, Chapman Piloting
.
, Connecticut
, in 1881. After high school
at the Norwich Free Academy
, he studied naval architecture
and marine engineering
at Cornell University
, graduating in 1905. Chapman settled in Manhattan
and joined the New York Motor Boat Club where he later became commodore. He served as secretary of the American Power Boat Association
for 25 years and as chairman of the association's racing commission.
Chapman was active in powerboating
and racing and, in 1912, was brought to the attention of William Randolph Hearst
who hired him to edit Motor Boating magazine which he did for 56 years. In 1914, Chapman was among ten men who founded the United States Power Squadrons. Not only did he design the organization's ensign
, but he also served variously as treasurer, vice commander, and chief commander.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
asked Chapman to write an instruction manual to teach small-boat seamanship
to members of the Navy Reserve
. The next year, the 144-page Practical Motor Boat Handling, Seamanship, and Piloting was published. After six revisions, the manual was renamed in 1922 to Piloting, Seamanship & Small Boat Handling. The book has been in print ever since and is currently (2009) in its 66th edition.
, Connecticut, on March 21, 1976, at the age of 95.
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
, editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
of Hearst
Hearst Corporation
The Hearst Corporation is an American media conglomerate based in the Hearst Tower, Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States. Founded by William Randolph Hearst as an owner of newspapers, the company's holdings now include a wide variety of media...
's Motor Boating magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
from 1912 to 1968, co-founder of the United States Power Squadrons
United States Power Squadrons
The United States Power Squadrons is a non-profit educational organization, founded in 1914, whose mission is to improve maritime safety and enjoyability through classes in seamanship, navigation, and other related subjects. The USPS comprises approximately 45,000 members organized into 450...
, and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
of the standard boating reference work
Reference work
A reference work is a compendium of information, usually of a specific type, compiled in a book for ease of reference. That is, the information is intended to be quickly found when needed. Reference works are usually referred to for particular pieces of information, rather than read beginning to end...
, Chapman Piloting
Chapman Piloting
Chapman Piloting & Seamanship, published by Hearst Books, a Division of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. has been a leading reference book for both power and sail boaters for nearly 100 years. Known as "the Bible of Boating", more than 3 million copies have been printed...
.
Early life
Chapman was born in NorwichNorwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, in 1881. After high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
at the Norwich Free Academy
Norwich Free Academy
The Norwich Free Academy founded in 1854 and in operation since 1856, is a high school located in the city of Norwich, Connecticut. The Academy serves as the primary high school for Norwich and the surrounding towns of Canterbury, Bozrah, Voluntown, Sprague, Lisbon, Franklin, Preston andseveral...
, he studied naval architecture
Naval architecture
Naval architecture is an engineering discipline dealing with the design, construction, maintenance and operation of marine vessels and structures. Naval architecture involves basic and applied research, design, development, design evaluation and calculations during all stages of the life of a...
and marine engineering
Marine propulsion
Marine propulsion is the mechanism or system used to generate thrust to move a ship or boat across water. While paddles and sails are still used on some smaller boats, most modern ships are propelled by mechanical systems consisting a motor or engine turning a propeller, or less frequently, in jet...
at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, graduating in 1905. Chapman settled in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
and joined the New York Motor Boat Club where he later became commodore. He served as secretary of the American Power Boat Association
American Power Boat Association
The American Power Boat Association is a New York non-profit, membership owned corporation that was created in 1903 by an act of the New York legislature as a racing association for powerboats. It is the United States sanctioning authority for the Union Internationale Motonautique , the world...
for 25 years and as chairman of the association's racing commission.
Chapman was active in powerboating
Powerboating
Power boating describes activities performed in a motorized boat. Generally, a power boat has a high power-to-weight ratio and a hull design that allows for easy planing, which allows for higher speed and improved handling. Also, the shape of the actual boat is usually very streamlined, which...
and racing and, in 1912, was brought to the attention of William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst was an American business magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887, after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father...
who hired him to edit Motor Boating magazine which he did for 56 years. In 1914, Chapman was among ten men who founded the United States Power Squadrons. Not only did he design the organization's ensign
Ensign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
, but he also served variously as treasurer, vice commander, and chief commander.
Chapman Piloting
In 1916, then Assistant Secretary of the NavyAssistant Secretary of the Navy
Assistant Secretary of the Navy is the title given to certain civilian senior officials in the United States Department of the Navy....
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
asked Chapman to write an instruction manual to teach small-boat seamanship
Seamanship
Seamanship is the art of operating a ship or boat.It involves a knowledge of a variety of topics and development of specialised skills including: navigation and international maritime law; weather, meteorology and forecasting; watchstanding; ship-handling and small boat handling; operation of deck...
to members of the Navy Reserve
United States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
. The next year, the 144-page Practical Motor Boat Handling, Seamanship, and Piloting was published. After six revisions, the manual was renamed in 1922 to Piloting, Seamanship & Small Boat Handling. The book has been in print ever since and is currently (2009) in its 66th edition.
Death
Chapman died of a heart attack in EssexEssex, Connecticut
Essex is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,505 at the 2000 census. It is made up of three villages: Essex Village, Centerbrook, and Ivoryton.- History :- The Great Attack :...
, Connecticut, on March 21, 1976, at the age of 95.
See also
- Chapman School of SeamanshipChapman School of SeamanshipThe Charles F. Chapman School of Seamanship is a non-profit school of seamanship training located in Stuart, Florida. The school served professional and recreational boaters through "learning at the helm" experiential education.- History :...