John Williams (Surveyor of the Navy) facts for kids
Sir John Williams was an important British shipbuilder and designer. He lived from 1700 to about 1784. He became the Surveyor of the Navy. This was the top job for designing ships for the British Navy.
John Williams was born in 1700. His grandfather, also named John Williams, was also a ship designer. He designed a ship called HMS Crescent way back in 1642.
By 1762, John Williams was a Master Shipwright. This meant he was in charge of building ships at Sheerness Dockyard. We only know of one ship he personally built: HMS Winchelsea (1764).
In June 1765, he got a very important job. He was made Surveyor to the Navy. He worked with another famous ship designer, Thomas Slade. This job was based at the Admiralty. The Admiralty was the main office for the British Navy. As Surveyor, he helped plan the entire British fleet. He also helped plan improvements for naval harbours.
In April 1778, another ship designer, Edward Hunt, joined him at the Admiralty. Sir John Williams left his position in December 1784. John Henslow took over his role.
Ships Designed by Sir John Williams
Sir John Williams designed many different types of ships for the British Navy. Here are some of the important ones:
- Portland-class ship (1766): These were 50-gun ships.
- Swan-class ship-sloop (1766): These were smaller 14-gun sloops. At least 25 of these were built.
- Amazon-class frigate (1770): These were 32-gun frigates. Thirty-three of them were launched starting in 1773.
- Enterprise-class frigate (1771): These were 28-gun frigates. Twenty-seven of these were launched from 1773.
- HMS Vengeance (1771): This was a large 74-gun ship of the line. It was launched in 1774.
- Experiment-class ship (1772): A series of 50-gun ships.
- Sphinx-class post ship (1773): A series of ten 20-gun post ships.
- HMS Royal Sovereign (1774): This was a huge 100-gun ship of the line. It wasn't launched until 1786. This ship later became famous as Admiral Collingwood's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar.
- HMS Montagu (1775): Another 74-gun ship of the line. It was launched in 1779.
- Porcupine-class post ship (1776): Ten 24-gun post ships.
- HMS Jupiter (1776): A 50-gun ship launched in 1778.
- Alert-class cutter (1776): A series of 14-gun cutters.
- Sprightly-class cutter (1776): A series of 10-gun cutters.
- HMS Childers (1778): A 10-gun sloop.
- Flora-class frigate (1778): A series of four 36-gun frigates.
- L'Experiment (1779): A 50-gun ship of the line.
- HMS Latona (1779): A 38-gun frigate launched in 1781.
- HMS Unicorn (1781): A 20-gun ship (a new design based on a captured ship).
- HMS Raven (1782): An 18-gun sloop.
- HMS Pigmy (1782): A 14-gun cutter.
- HMS Blonde (1783): A 32-gun frigate launched in 1787.
Images for kids
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HMS Royal Sovereign, a powerful ship designed by Sir John Williams.
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A Flora-class frigate, similar to those designed by Sir John Williams, in battle.
