Thomas Davidson (naval architect)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Davidson was a naval constructor for the United States Navy
.
. His capabilities soon attracted the attention of John Lenthall
, then chief constructor of the U. S. Navy.
In 1850, at 22 years of age, he built his first vessel “from the stumps” on the banks of the James River
, and soon afterward entered into business in Philadelphia. In 1861, he was appointed quartermaster over the ship carpenters in the Philadelphia Navy Yard, and in 1863 was promoted to assistant naval constructor. He attained the full grade in 1866, with the relative rank of commander, which office he held until his death. At one time during the Civil War
, he was conducting the repairs, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, of 42 vessels, large and small, and also building several new ones. The “Tuscarora,” sister ship of the “Kearsarge,” was built under his direction in 58 working days, and the “Miami” in 27 days. But his greatest feat was the building, in 70 days, of the “Juniata” (1,240 tons, 7 guns) from the frame of a Florida live-oak frigate that had been seasoned for 23 years.
Davidson displayed his engineering abilities in the floating of the “Monongahela
,” which had been driven inland on Santa Cruz Island during the earthquake of 18 November 1867, and left stranded 40 feet (12.2 m) high. With a body of skilled men selected from the different navy yards, in a little over three months he succeeded in moving the ship sidewise to the water's edge, and thence for 2500 feet (762 m) over a bed of coral to deep water.
Subsequently, he was ordered on duty at the bureau of construction in Washington, and was busy with plans for developing a navy of armored vessels, torpedo boat
s, and fast cruisers. The models and drawings for the first large torpedo boats built in New York were executed by him. He was about to be sent to Europe for an exhaustive study of foreign navies and navy yards, when his health failed.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
Biography
He came to the United States, at the age of four years, with his parents, who settled in Philadelphia. He early developed a talent for mechanical invention and construction, in consequence of which he was apprenticed to the trade of ship building with Matthew Van Dusen, at the same time studying mathematics with his brother GeorgeGeorge Davidson (geographer)
George Davidson was an geodesist, astronomer, geographer, surveyor and engineer in the United States.-Biography:Born May 9, 1825 in England, he came to the U.S. in 1832 with his parents, who settled in Pennsylvania...
. His capabilities soon attracted the attention of John Lenthall
John Lenthall
John Lenthall may refer to:People* Sir John Lenthall, 1st Baronet, , English lawyer and member of parliament* John Lenthall , , Shipbuilder of Philadelphia Ships...
, then chief constructor of the U. S. Navy.
In 1850, at 22 years of age, he built his first vessel “from the stumps” on the banks of the James River
James River
The James River may refer to:Rivers in the United States and their namesakes* James River * James River , North Dakota, South Dakota* James River * James River * James River...
, and soon afterward entered into business in Philadelphia. In 1861, he was appointed quartermaster over the ship carpenters in the Philadelphia Navy Yard, and in 1863 was promoted to assistant naval constructor. He attained the full grade in 1866, with the relative rank of commander, which office he held until his death. At one time during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he was conducting the repairs, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, of 42 vessels, large and small, and also building several new ones. The “Tuscarora,” sister ship of the “Kearsarge,” was built under his direction in 58 working days, and the “Miami” in 27 days. But his greatest feat was the building, in 70 days, of the “Juniata” (1,240 tons, 7 guns) from the frame of a Florida live-oak frigate that had been seasoned for 23 years.
Davidson displayed his engineering abilities in the floating of the “Monongahela
USS Monongahela (1862)
USS Monongahela was a barkentine–rigged screw sloop-of-war that served in the Union Navy during the American Civil War. Her task was to participate in the Union blockade of the Confederate States of America...
,” which had been driven inland on Santa Cruz Island during the earthquake of 18 November 1867, and left stranded 40 feet (12.2 m) high. With a body of skilled men selected from the different navy yards, in a little over three months he succeeded in moving the ship sidewise to the water's edge, and thence for 2500 feet (762 m) over a bed of coral to deep water.
Subsequently, he was ordered on duty at the bureau of construction in Washington, and was busy with plans for developing a navy of armored vessels, torpedo boat
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
s, and fast cruisers. The models and drawings for the first large torpedo boats built in New York were executed by him. He was about to be sent to Europe for an exhaustive study of foreign navies and navy yards, when his health failed.