Philip Watts (naval architect) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Philip Watts
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Philip Watts caricatured by Spy in Vanity Fair, 1910
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| Born | 30 May 1846 Deptford, Kent, England
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| Died | 15 March 1926 (aged 79) Chelsea, London, England
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| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Naval architect |
| Known for | Warship design |
| Spouse(s) | Elise Isabelle Simonau, daughter of Chevalier Gustave Simonau, of Brussels |
| Children | 2 daughters |
Sir Philip Watts (born May 30, 1846 – died March 15, 1926) was a brilliant British ship designer. He became very famous for creating many warships, especially the groundbreaking battleship HMS Dreadnought. This ship changed how navies built their fleets forever.
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Early Life and Education
Philip Watts was born in Deptford, a town in Kent, England. He went to school at the Dockyard School in Portsmouth. Later, he studied at the Royal School of Naval Architecture in South Kensington, London. These schools taught him how to design and build ships.
Watts' Amazing Career
Watts started working for the Admiralty (the British government department in charge of the Royal Navy) in 1870. He worked there until 1885, becoming a chief constructor. This meant he was a top designer of ships for the navy.
From 1885 to 1901, he worked for a big company called Armstrong Whitworth in Elswick. He led their warship design department. He even returned to the company as a director in 1912.
In 1902, Watts was given a very important job: Director of Naval Construction at the Admiralty. He held this position until 1912. After that, he became an adviser to the Admiralty on how to build naval ships. This role was very important when World War I started.
Watts designed the first dreadnought battleship. So, when World War I began, he played a key part in seeing how the fleet he helped create would be used. In 1912, he also joined the Royal Commission on Fuel and Engines.
Watts was also a volunteer and a commanding officer for the 1st Northumberland Artillery Volunteers. In June 1900, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very respected group for scientists. He was also made a Knight Commander of the Bath (KCB) in 1905, which is a special honor.
Ships Designed by Watts
Philip Watts designed many ships for different navies around the world. Here are some of the famous warships he helped create:
For Armstrong Whitworth:
- NMS Elisabeta for the Romanian Navy, 1887
- Castore-class gunboats for the Italian Navy, 1887–1889
- Piemonte for the Italian Navy, 1887–1889
- Republica for the Brazilian Navy, 1892
- ARA Veinticinco de Mayo for the Argentine Navy, 1890
- ARA Nueve de Julio for the Argentine Navy, 1892
- Japanese cruiser Yoshino for the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1892
- Esmeralda for the Chilean Navy, 1895
- USS New Orleans (CL-22) for the United States Navy, 1895
- Almirante Barroso for the Brazilian Navy
- Yashima for the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1896
- O'Higgins for the Chilean Navy, 1897
- Asama for the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1898
- Tokiwa for the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1898
- USS Albany (CL-23) for the United States Navy, 1898
- Dom Carlos I for the Portuguese Navy, 1898
- HNoMS Norge for the Royal Norwegian Navy, 1899
- HNoMS Eidsvold for the Royal Norwegian Navy, 1899
- Hatsuse for the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1899
- Izumo for the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1899
- Iwate for the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1900
For the Royal Navy:
- HMS Dreadnought (This ship changed naval warfare!)
- Queen Elizabeth-class battleship class
- Lord Nelson-class battleships
Family and Later Life
Philip Watts married Elise Isabelle Simonau. They had two daughters together. He passed away in 1926 and is buried in Brompton Cemetery in London.
