Edward Hunt (shipbuilder) facts for kids

Sir Edward Hunt (born around 1730, died 1787) was a very important British shipbuilder and designer. He worked for the Royal Navy and eventually became the Surveyor of the Navy. This was a top job where he helped design and build many of the powerful ships for Britain's navy.

Sir Edward Hunt's Life and Career

Edward Hunt started his career around 1757. He began as a Master Boat Builder at Portsmouth Dockyard. This job meant he was in charge of building smaller boats. Before this, he likely trained as a ship's carpenter. This involved working on Royal Navy ships at sea and on land.

He moved up quickly in his career. In 1762, he became an Assistant Master Shipwright at Sheerness Dockyard. This role meant he helped oversee the building of larger ships. Soon after, he was promoted to Master Caulker. This job involved making sure ships were watertight.

In 1765, he moved to Woolwich Dockyard as an Assistant Master Shipwright. By 1767, he was given full charge as the Master Shipwright at Sheerness Dockyard. This was a big responsibility, as he was now in charge of all shipbuilding there. In 1772, he moved to the much larger dockyard at Portsmouth.

In April 1778, Edward Hunt was chosen to be a Surveyor of the Navy. This was one of the most important jobs in the Royal Navy's shipbuilding department. He worked alongside Sir John Williams. From December 1784, he became the senior Surveyor, working with John Henslow.

Sir Edward Hunt stopped working in December 1786. He passed away just a few weeks later in 1787.

Ships Built by Sir Edward Hunt

Sir Edward Hunt oversaw the building of several important ships. Here are some of them:

• HMS Portland (1770): A 50-gun ship of the line launched at Harwich. Ships of the line were large, powerful warships.
• HMS Berwick (1775): A 74-gun ship of the line launched at Portsmouth.
• HMS Sphinx (1775): A 20-gun ship.
• HMS Cygnet (1776): A 14-gun sloop. Sloops were smaller, faster warships.
• HMS Swift (1777): A 14-gun sloop.
• HMS Lion (1777): A 64-gun ship of the line launched at Portsmouth.

Ships Designed by Sir Edward Hunt

Sir Edward Hunt also designed many ships and ship classes. A "class" means a group of ships built to the same design.

• Active-class frigate (1778): These were 32-gun frigates, first launched in 1779. Frigates were fast warships used for scouting and protecting convoys.
• Minerva-class frigate (1778): These were 32-gun frigates, first launched in 1780.
• Ganges-class ship of the line (1779): These were 74-gun ships of the line, first launched in 1782.
• Perseverance-class frigate (1779): These were 36-gun frigates, first launched in 1781.
• HMS Active (1779): A 36-gun frigate, first launched in 1780.
• Grampus-class ship (1780): These were 50-gun ships.
• Hermione-class frigate (1780): These were 32-gun frigates, first launched in 1782.
• Echo-class sloop (1781): These were 16-gun sloops.
• HMS Trusty (1781): A 50-gun ship of the line launched in 1782.
• Adventure-class ship (1782): These were 44-gun ships, first launched in 1785.
• HMS Culloden (1782): A 74-gun ship of the line launched in 1783.
• HMS Melampus (1782): A 36-gun frigate launched in 1785.
• HMS Squirrel (1783): A 20-gun post ship launched in 1785.
• HMS Caesar (1786): An 80-gun ship of the line launched in 1793.
• HMS Retaliation (1799): A 32-gun frigate, which was a redesigned version of HMS Hermione.
• HMS Queen Charlotte (1805): A huge 100-gun ship of the line launched in 1810.

Family

Around 1760, Edward Hunt married Ann(e) Irish. They lived in Portsea, Portsmouth and also had a house in Blackheath. Their first son, Joseph Hunt, later became a Member of Parliament (MP) and Director of Greenwich Hospital, London.

Images for kids

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  A Minerva class frigate, designed by Hunt.

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  Hunt's drawing of HMS Berwick.

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  HMS Trusty, a ship of the line designed by Hunt.

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  HMS Melampus, a frigate designed by Hunt.