Joseph Tucker (Royal Navy official) facts for kids
Joseph Tucker (born around 1760, died 1838) was an important person in the British Navy. He served as a joint Surveyor of the Navy from 1813 until he retired in 1831. This job meant he was in charge of designing and building naval ships for the country. He worked alongside Robert Seppings, another famous ship designer of his time.
Joseph Tucker's Life
Joseph Tucker was born around 1760. His family came from Crediton, a town in Devon, England. His father was Benjamin Tucker. Joseph also had a brother named Benjamin Tucker, who held important roles like Surveyor General for Cornwall and Second Secretary to the Admiralty. This shows that the Tucker family had a history of serving the government.
Early Career and Key Roles
In 1802, Joseph Tucker became the master shipwright at the Plymouth Dockyard. This was a very important position, as he was responsible for overseeing the building and repair of ships at one of Britain's main naval bases.
Later, in 1814, Tucker was appointed a Commissioner. He traveled to Antwerp with Sir George Wood and Admiral T. B. Martin. Their mission was to manage the division of the fleet and naval supplies from the arsenal located there. This was a significant task, showing the trust placed in his abilities.
Designing Ships
Joseph Tucker was also known for his innovative ideas in ship design. In 1809, he designed a massive 170-gun ship. It was planned to have five levels of guns and was to be named the Duke of Kent. Although this huge ship was never actually built, it was a very ambitious design for its time. The National Maritime Museum notes that this design was one of the things he was best known for.
Family Life
Joseph Tucker married Jane A'Court. They had several children. Their third son, John Scott Tucker, married Unity Isabella Hire. One of Joseph and Jane's five daughters, Jane A'Court Tucker, married Robert Willis. Their son, Sir William Willis, became the Accountant-General of the Navy, managing the navy's finances. Sir William's second son, John Willis, later became the Bishop of Uganda from 1912 to 1934.
Joseph Tucker passed away in London on November 23, 1838.
