Henry Adams (shipbuilder)

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Henry Adams
Henry Adams ship builder.JPG
Born1713
Died1805
NationalityBritish
OccupationShipbuilder

Henry Adams (1713–1805) was a British Master Shipbuilder. He lived and worked at Bucklers Hard between 1744 and 1805.[1] His home is now The Master Shipbuilders House Hotel in Bucklers Hard. He was responsible for building many famous warships during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.[2]

Life[]

Adams was the son of Anthony Adams, a shipwright at Deptford Royal Dockyard and it was there at the age of thirteen that he began his indenture in his father's trade. In 1744 Anthony Adams moved with his family to Hampshire, to supervise for the Admiralty the construction of a small warship at a private yard at Buckler's Hard on the Beaulieu River. After this was completed the business fell into difficulties. By 1748, and with financial support from The Duke of Montagu, the business transferred to Henry Adams.

In that year, Henry Adams was successful in securing his first Admiralty contract, to construct the 28-gun sixth-rate vessel Mermaid.[3] A steady supply of further contracts followed, culminating in the construction of sailing frigates such as Euryalus and ships of the line including Agamemnon and Swiftsure.[4] He was also responsible for the construction of HMS Indefatigable which saw fame under Captain Sir Edward Pellew during the action of 13 January 1797.

References[]

  1. ^ Buckler's Hard Maritime Museum, New Forest Website, Accessed 06-02-2009.
  2. ^ A.Burton, The Rise and Fall of British Shipbuilding, History Press, 2013.
  3. ^ Pool, Bernard (1963). "Some Notes on Warship Building By Contract in the Eighteenth Century". The Mariner's Mirror. 49 (2): 105–119. doi:10.1080/00253359.1963.10657721.
  4. ^ Buckler's Hard - Henry Adams Archived 2 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine, New Forest National Park Website, Accessed 06-02-2009.

External links[]

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