Edmund Dummer (naval engineer) facts for kids

Edmund Dummer (1651–1713) was an important English naval engineer and shipbuilder. He became the Surveyor of the Navy, a top job where he designed and oversaw the building of the Royal Navy dockyard at Devonport, near Plymouth. He also planned the expansion of the dockyard at Portsmouth.

Dummer created a famous historical document by surveying the ports along England's south coast. He also served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Arundel for about ten years. Later in his career, he started the first packet service (a mail delivery service by ship) between Falmouth, Cornwall and the West Indies. Sadly, he faced financial difficulties and passed away in a debtors' prison.

Historians like Celina Fox say that Dummer tried to make ship and dockyard building more organized and planned. He used math and careful observations. Even though he was very skilled, he faced challenges from people who preferred older ways of doing things. Today, he is mostly known by naval historians. Many of his big building projects were later changed or destroyed.

Early Career and Naval Beginnings

Edmund Dummer was born in 1651 and was baptized on August 28 in St. Nicolas' Church, North Stoneham, Hampshire. He was the oldest of four sons. His father, Thomas Dummer, was a gentleman farmer.

In 1668, Edmund joined the Royal Navy. He trained as a shipwright (someone who builds and repairs ships) under Sir John Tippetts at Portsmouth naval dockyard. Samuel Pepys, a famous naval administrator, noted that Dummer mostly worked as a clerk for Tippetts, focusing on writing and drawing.

By 1678, Dummer was an "extra clerk" in the Surveyor's office. He designed many things, from ship lanterns to wet docks and ship parts. He was also skilled at drawing ship plans.

In 1677, Dummer helped Sir Anthony Deane, who was in charge of setting standard sizes for new warships. Dummer was praised by the Navy Board for his "extraordinary ingenuity" in planning these new ships.

Some of Dummer's early drawings still exist today. These include a sketchbook called Tables of Proportions of Ships. It shows how he plotted the curves of ship hulls. Another collection of eight drawings, Draught of the Body of an English Man of War, is in the Pepys Library. These detailed drawings showed off his amazing skills. They helped him move forward in his career.

In 1679, Dummer got caught up in a political disagreement involving Pepys and Deane. Their work was questioned by Parliament. Dummer was worried about how his drawings might be used. He even met with King Charles II to explain his innocent intentions. He was sent away to Bristol for a while. Later, he was asked to bring his drawings to the Navy Board. The Admiralty still had some doubts about Dummer and Deane. Dummer was told not to draw plans for anyone else besides the King's service. He struggled to get paid for his work during this time.

Mediterranean Voyage (1682)

In July 1682, Dummer became an officer on HMS Woolwich. He was sent to the Mediterranean Sea. His mission was to gather useful information about shipbuilding and ports in foreign countries. He estimated his trip would cost about £95, and the Navy agreed to pay him back.

Dummer sailed from Deal on August 3, 1682. The ship carried the Moorish Ambassador back to Tangiers. After some adventures, they reached Tangiers on August 31. Dummer then traveled to places like Sardinia, Sicily, Naples, and Livorno. He left the Woolwich in Livorno in November.

He spent time in Livorno and Pisa. During this period, Dummer delivered a beautiful carved panel by Grinling Gibbons to the English envoy in Florence. This was a gift from King Charles II to the Grand Duke of Tuscany.

Dummer was very interested in recording towns, dockyards, and forts. He made detailed drawings of arsenals (places where military equipment is made or stored) in cities like Naples, Livorno, Venice, and Toulon. He noticed that Mediterranean ports used covered slipways to build and repair ships, which was different from the English method. He was especially impressed by the Venetian Arsenal.

In April 1683, he visited Toulon, France. He even did some informal spying. He described the French fleet as "good" but "ill built." He noted that all ships were built on slipways and cleaned by tilting them, as there were no dry docks. He also drew the new forts being built there. He then visited Marseilles, where he saw many French King's galleys. He called them "the most polite and beautiful I ever saw."

Throughout his journey, Dummer carefully followed the King's orders. He made observations on all foreign ships, from Cadiz to Constantinople. His journal described each vessel in great detail. It included watercolor drawings and 3D models.

In July 1683, Dummer sailed back to England. He stopped in places like Gibraltar and Cadiz. In Cadiz, he received orders to go to Tangier. He stayed there until the English military base was given up and destroyed in February 1684. Dummer returned to England with Samuel Pepys. They arrived back in England on March 30, 1684. By the end of the year, his expenses, which were about £150, were paid back.

After his voyage, Dummer created a "sumptuous volume" of his findings. This important book is now kept in the British Library.

Chatham Dockyard

After his voyage, Dummer applied for shipwright jobs. In September 1685, Samuel Pepys recommended him to John Evelyn. Evelyn was very impressed by Dummer's cleverness.

In 1686, Dummer became the first assistant master shipwright at Chatham Dockyard. He worked under Robert Lee until 1689. Pepys noted that Dummer was "ingenious" but "rarely to have handled a tool." His promotion was based on his design and drawing skills.

Surveyor of the Navy

A Projection of a Dock Built with Stone: Dummer's 1689 drawing of a stone dock.

On April 20, 1689, Dummer was appointed Assistant Surveyor of the Navy. He earned £300 a year. When Sir John Tippetts died in August 1692, Dummer took over as Surveyor, with a salary of £500 a year.

As Surveyor, Dummer worked to make the Navy stronger. He wanted to make ship construction more uniform. Even though the Navy tried to standardize ships, they still varied in size. To fix this, in 1692, Dummer sent builders a printed sketch with measurement points. This helped everyone measure ships the same way. His method became official practice in April 1696.

Dummer was the first Surveyor to introduce exact standards for new ships. He sent each builder precise measurements and models of the finished vessel. He made sure that master builders measured ships when they were docked.

In 1693, Dummer reported on bomb vessels (ships designed to fire bombs). He based his report on a French engineer's design. This led to the building of some experimental bomb vessels in England.

In 1699, Dummer reviewed Thomas Savery's designs for paddle-wheels. Dummer's negative report led the Admiralty to dismiss the idea.

Dummer's biggest achievement as Surveyor was improving the royal dockyards. These were at Devonport (near Plymouth) and Portsmouth.

Devonport Dockyard

One of Dummer's early designs for a single dock at 'Ham-oze' (1689).

In September 1689, Dummer was asked to find the best place for a dry dock at Plymouth. He found three possible spots. The small inlet at Hamoaze was chosen. The dock was to be built with stone, not timber. This was a big change. King William insisted the dry dock be large enough for the biggest ships. Dummer designed Europe's first successful stepped stone dry dock at Devonport.

1689 drawing by Dummer, comparing the profiles of a wooden (left) and stone (right) dock.

Before Dummer, the Navy used timber for building. This meant high costs and fire risks. Dummer's stone docks were stronger and safer. Their stepped sides made it easier for shipwrights to work on ships. He also replaced the old, complex dock gates with simpler, two-sectioned ones.

Dummer wanted naval dockyards to be very efficient. He designed a simple layout for Plymouth. He placed storage areas and buildings logically. His double rope-house combined rope-making tasks. This saved time and space.

By September 1694, Dummer reported that the docks were finished. In December 1694, he presented his Account of the Generall Progress of the new docks. This report explained his planning, which was influenced by his travels. He included eight detailed drawings. These showed plans of the site, the yard, and the dry dock. They also showed officer houses and other buildings. The drawings helped explain his work and showed his pride in his achievements.

Dummer's design for Devonport aimed to stop "great abuses" in the yards. He wanted to avoid wasting time and materials. He made sure workers and materials were close together. This saved time and money. The officers' houses were placed on a high spot. This allowed officers to watch over the yard.

The costs for the Devonport project reached £50,000. Dummer explained that this was due to the size and newness of the work. Problems also arose from irregular payments and the country being at war. He admitted that cost increases were made gradually. This was so they would be accepted more easily.

Portsmouth Dockyard

In 1689, Parliament ordered new docks at Portsmouth. Work started in 1691. Dummer designed these new docks. He used brick and stone instead of wood. He also increased the number of steps in the docks. These new works were built on reclaimed land. This was a huge engineering project. The "great stone dock" was emptied using chain pumps powered by horses. A building slip was also constructed.

In November 1691, Dummer oversaw the raising and repair of HMS St David. This 54-gun ship had capsized and partly blocked Portsmouth harbor.

South Coast Survey

In June 1698, Dummer surveyed various harbors along England's south coast. This was important because a new war with France was possible. Portsmouth would have been a major target. He was helped by Captain Thomas Wiltshaw and two Masters of Trinity House. They surveyed eighteen harbors in July and August 1698. The resulting charts were quickly made. They showed few details like water depths.

The purpose of this survey was to find sites for new dockyards. They also wanted to see if smaller ports could be improved for larger ships. The report suggested that only ports near Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight were suitable. No new yards should be built between Dover and Land's End. A copy of this report is kept by the Hampshire County Council Museums Service.

Royal Navy Dockyards Survey

In 1698, Dummer also created a detailed survey of the royal dockyards. It was called Survey and Description of the Principal Harbours... This book described the improvements made to each dockyard since 1688. It included details about buildings, their value, and new docks at Portsmouth and Plymouth.

Dummer's survey was part of a larger effort to manage the Navy's huge operations. His drawings were an amazing feat of surveying. Each royal dockyard was described separately. Drawings were made to the same scale for easy comparison. Dummer combined precise measurements with great artistry. The survey showed the port, the yard, and how the yard had changed over ten years. It also showed plans and elevations of every building.

The survey covered dockyards on the Thames and Medway rivers. These included Chatham, Sheerness, Woolwich, and Deptford. It also covered Portsmouth and Plymouth. The total value of the dockyards was estimated at £291,124. More than half of this, £166,799, had been spent in the previous ten years. The biggest investments were at Plymouth (£67,095) and Portsmouth (£63,384).

Naval historians today highly praise Dummer's work as Surveyor. The new docks at Plymouth and Portsmouth are seen as "lasting monuments of his great skill."

Political Career

In November 1695, Dummer tried to get elected in Portsmouth. He faced challenges, and some voters were prevented from casting their ballots. Although a petition was filed, Dummer was instead elected to represent Arundel.

Dummer was elected MP for Arundel three times. He supported the court (the government). His first term was from 1695 to 1698. He was re-elected in January 1701 but served only ten months. He returned to Parliament the next year and served for six more years. In Parliament, he supported Robert Harley.

Greenwich Hospital

Dummer was appointed as a Governor of the new Greenwich Hospital in 1695. This hospital cared for retired sailors. He held this position until his death in 1713.

Later Challenges

Dummer's career as Surveyor of the Navy ended suddenly in December 1698. This happened after a disagreement with John Fitch, a main contractor at Portsmouth Dockyard.

The problems started in 1693. Dummer and Sir Anthony Deane had doubts about Fitch's work and his payment claims. There were many construction issues. Fitch's workers had damaged the entrance to the lower basin. This caused the banks to slide into the channel. In 1695, Dummer reported that a dam built to protect the new docks had broken. By the end of 1696, Dummer removed Fitch from the project due to poor work and questionable payment claims.

Fitch then sued the Crown for payment. Dummer was named as a defendant. The court referred the matter for arbitration. Experts, including Sir Christopher Wren, examined the work. They confirmed Dummer's concerns about the poor workmanship. They ordered that the upper wet dock be taken down and rebuilt.

The court decided that Fitch had been paid enough for his work. However, Fitch then complained to the Admiralty. He claimed that Dummer had asked for bribes for Navy contracts. Dummer denied these charges. He admitted borrowing money from Fitch for another shipbuilder. With accusations from both sides, Dummer was suspended from his job on Christmas Eve 1698.

Even though a civil court cleared his name and awarded him damages, his Navy Office career was over. He was allowed his title and salary for 1699 but was not put back in his position. He was officially dismissed on August 10, 1699. Daniel Furzer took his place.

Sowley Ironworks

In 1700, Dummer and his cousin, also named Edmund Dummer, helped fund an ironworks. This was at Sowley, near Beaulieu. The ironworks supplied many iron goods to Portsmouth dockyard.

After the ironmaster Henry Corbett died in 1708, Dummer took over the property. He claimed unpaid debts. A court ruled in 1711 that Dummer was the rightful holder of the lease. Dummer continued the business until 1712. His brother Thomas continued to supply the navy until 1716.

Packet Service

In 1694, as Surveyor of the Navy, Dummer oversaw the building of fast packet-boats. These were for the Post Office packet service from Harwich to the Low countries. Dummer also ran a packet service between Falmouth, Corunna, and Lisbon.

After losing his Surveyor job, Dummer focused on creating a regular mail service. This service would connect England with the British islands in the West Indies. In June 1702, he proposed a monthly service. It would use four ocean-going packet-boats. They would stop at Barbados, Antigua, Montserrat, Nevis, and Jamaica.

On June 30, the Crown approved Dummer's plan. He received special permissions. His ships could fly the Queen's flag. His crews were protected from being forced into naval service. He also received a letter of marque during the War of the Spanish Succession. This allowed his ships to capture enemy vessels. The first transatlantic mail service sponsored by the Post Office began on October 21, 1702. Dummer's packet Bridgeman sailed from Portsmouth for Barbados.

Dummer's service aimed for quick trips. His fastest round trip took 88 days. This service set a pattern for future overseas mail services for the British Empire. It was run privately but with government support. Dummer initially submitted his expenses to the Postmaster General. However, payments were slow. In 1704, he was granted a salary as a Commissioner of the Navy.

A new contract was made in 1705. It would run for at least three years. Dummer would receive £12,500 per year. He could also carry freight for profit. In return, he took all risks for the ships. He also guaranteed the Post Office £8,000 per year from mail and passengers. Five new ships were built for this contract. They were armed with 20 guns and had oars to escape in calm waters.

By 1707, Dummer realized he could not continue the service. The clause guaranteeing £8,000 to the Crown was too difficult. A new contract was drawn up in 1708. He would continue the monthly service with five vessels. He would supply stores and pay crews. He would also take all risks for lost ships. He would receive £12,000 a year during wartime and £8,000 in peacetime. He would keep all money from cargo and passengers, while the Crown got the mail revenue.

Even with this new contract, the service was hard to maintain. Dummer had to borrow money. By the end of 1711, the service ended. Dummer had lost two packets at sea and seven were captured by enemies. His remaining seven packets were seized by people he owed money to.

The Post Office did not re-introduce a service to the West Indies until 1745. This new service was based on Dummer's original plans.

Shipbuilder for the Navy

Dummer continued to work with the Royal Navy through his shipbuilding business. In 1704, he presented a model for a small vessel. It was designed to "cruise on the coast" and could be rowed or sailed. The Admiralty asked him to build two such vessels. These two sloops, HMS Ferret and HMS Weazle, were larger and more powerful than earlier ships of their kind. They were the first sloops built as effective warships.

In 1709, Dummer also designed and built HMS Swan for the Navy. In the same year, the Navy bought another similar ship from him, HMS Hind. The French captured Ferret in 1706. The Hind was unfortunately wrecked in 1709. The Weazle and Swan were sold in 1712.

South Stoneham House

South Stoneham House.

In 1705, Dummer bought the estate at South Stoneham, near Southampton. By 1708, South Stoneham House was completed. It was likely designed by the architect Nicholas Hawksmoor.

Bankruptcy and Death

Dummer faced serious financial problems and was declared bankrupt in February 1711. Although he was released from the Fleet Prison shortly after, he was sent back to the Fleet in April 1712. He passed away there at the end of April 1713. He was buried at St Andrew's, Holborn on May 8, 1713.

After his death, his brother ran the ironworks until 1716. In December 1713, Dummer's widow, Sarah, and unmarried daughter, Jane, asked the Navy Board for help. They were struggling financially. Robert Harley, Dummer's former political supporter, helped them. They were granted a pension of £150 per year.

In August 1716, Dummer's estate, including South Stoneham manor, was sold. This was done to pay off his debts. The manor then went to Edward Nicholas.

Family Life

Edmund Dummer married Sarah around 1680. They had five children:

• Mary (1680–1690)
• Sarah (1682–1700)
• Edmund (died 1701)
• Susanna (born 1684, married her cousin William Dummer and had two children, Edmund and Sarah)
• Jane

His widow, Sarah, passed away a few months after him, in early 1714.

Images for kids

• 

  A Projection of a Dock Built with Stone: 1689 drawing by Edmund Dummer.

• 

  One of Dummer's early designs for a single dock at 'Ham-oze' (1689).

• 

  1689 drawing by Dummer, comparing the profiles of a wooden (left) and stone (right) dock.

• 

  South Stoneham House.