John Henslow (Surveyor of the Navy) facts for kids

Sir John Henslow (born October 9, 1730 – died September 22, 1815) was a very important person in the Royal Navy. He held the job of Surveyor to the Navy, which meant he was in charge of designing and building ships for the British fleet. He held this important position, sometimes alone and sometimes with a partner, from 1784 to 1806.

Sir John Henslow's Life and Work

John Henslow was born in 1730. He was the seventh child of John Henslow, who was a master carpenter at the Woolwich dockyard. This meant he grew up around ships and shipbuilding.

Becoming a Ship Designer

Sir John Henslow started his career in shipbuilding at a young age.

• In 1745, he began learning the trade as an apprentice. He trained under Sir Thomas Slade, who was a very famous ship designer.
• By 1762, he had become a Master Boat Builder at Woolwich. This was a big step up in his career.
• In 1771, he became an Assistant Surveyor to the Navy. This role helped him learn even more about designing ships for the entire navy.
• Finally, in 1784, he reached the top. He became the main Surveyor to the Navy. This was a very important job, as he was responsible for the design of many ships that protected Britain.
• In 1793, the King honored him by making him a knight. This is why he is known as "Sir" John Henslow.
• He retired from his long and successful career in 1806. He moved to Sittingbourne, a town in Kent, England.

Ships Designed by Sir John Henslow

Sir John Henslow designed many different kinds of ships for the Royal Navy. These ships were crucial for Britain's power at sea.

• He designed gun-brigs, which were small but powerful ships with cannons. Examples include the Acute-class gun-brigs and the Bloodhound and Conquest-class gun-brigs.
• He also designed larger ships, such as frigates. Four frigates were built to his design, with the first one being Phoebe.
• Another series of ships he designed were the Laurel-class post ship sixth rates. These were six ships built to his design from 1805.
• His smallest vessels were the two Placentia-class sloops. These small ships were only 42 tons and were used for patrolling the coast of Newfoundland.

Working with William Rule

From 1793, Sir John Henslow worked together with another expert, William Rule. They shared the role of Surveyor to the Navy and designed ships as a team.

A Place Named After Him

A place called Cape Henslow on Guadalcanal is named after him. This shows how important he was and how his work was recognized around the world.

Sir John Henslow's Family

Sir John Henslow had a family that also included notable people. His son, John Prentis Henslow, was a solicitor. John Prentis Henslow was the father of John Stevens Henslow. John Stevens Henslow became a famous botanist and geologist. Sir John Henslow was also the grandfather of Francis Hartwell Henslowe.